Teacher and student killed in a shootout Earlier this week at a school in Madison, Wisconsin, they were identified by authorities on Wednesday.
The Dane County Coroner’s Office said in a news release provided to CBS News that Erin West, 42, and Rubi Vergara, 14, were was shot to death Monday morning at Abundant Life Christian School.
Preliminary examinations determined that the two died of “homicidal gunshot trauma.” Both were pronounced dead at the scene, the medical examiner said.
An online obituary at a local funeral home he stated Vergara was a freshman who leaves behind her parents, a brother and a large extended family. He described her as “an avid reader” who “loved art, singing and playing keyboards in the family worship band.”
West’s exact position with the school was unclear.
The medical examiner also confirmed that a preliminary autopsy found the alleged shooter, Natalie Rupnow, 15, a student at the same school, was pronounced dead Monday at a local hospital from “gunshot-related trauma.” Madison Police Chief Shon F. Barnes had previously told reporters that Rupnow was pronounced dead while being transported to a hospital.
Police had also previously stated that he was believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooting at the Christian K-12 private school was reported shortly before 11 a.m. Monday. In addition to the two dead and the shooter, six others were injured.
Police said the shooting happened in a classroom where a study hall was being held with students from various grades.
A gun was recovered after the shooting, Barnes said, but it was unclear where the gun came from or how many shots were fired. A police source said the weapon used in the shooting appeared to be a 9mm handgun.
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contributed to this report.