A 15-year-old girl, who police identified as Natalie Rupnow, killed a teacher and fellow student after opening fire on a K-12 school in Madison, Wisconsin.
Police responded to reports of an active shooter at Abundant Life Christian School just before 11 a.m. on Monday morning and entered the building immediately upon arrival.
Rupnow – who went by “Samantha” – was pronounced dead when police arrived at the scene of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, Madison Police Department Chief Shon Barnes said.
Six others have been left injured, including two left two in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Her motive remains unclear.
A second-grade student dialled 911 to report the shooting, police said Monday. Authorities found a handgun at the scene. Rupnow’s family is cooperating with police, the chief said.
Joe Biden, who was briefed on the school shooting on Monday, said: “It’s shocking and unconscionable. We need Congress to act. Now… Jill and I are praying for all the victims today, including the teacher and teenage student who were killed and those who sustained injuries.”
A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Tuesday evening as Madison reels from the attack.
Madison mayor tells media it is ‘absolutely none of y’all’s business’ who was harmed in shooting
The mayor of Madison appeared to become frustrated at members of the media at a press conference on Tuesday, telling reporters it was “absolutely none of y’all’s business who was harmed in this incident.”
Satya Rhodes-Conway urged members of the press to have “human decency and respect” for those involved, when asked a question on why little information had been shared so far.
The suspected teenage shooter has been named as Natalie Rupnow, but the victims – a student and a member of staff – have not.
Asked why there had not been answers to some media questions, Rhodes-Conway replied: “Right, I’m going to say this, and then we’re done.
“It is absolutely none of y’all business who was harmed in this incident – please have some human decency and respect for the people who lost loved ones or were injured themselves or whose children were injured, just have some human decency, folks.
“Leave them alone. Let them grieve, let them recover, let them heal. Don’t feed off their pain. We’ll share what we can when we can, and not before that, thank you.”
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 20:10
Watch: Wisconsin Police Chief clarifies shooting 911 call was made by a second grade teacher
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 19:55
Schools in the district were ‘swatted’ on Tuesday, says Madison police chief
Several Madison Metropolitan School District schools were swatted Tuesday, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said at a press conference.
“Today numerous MMSD schools were targeted by false threats often known as swatting. We’re working closely with the Madison Metropolitan School District to determine where these originated and to investigate this call,” he said.
“We do not believe that there are any current threats to any Madison-area schools and will continue to investigate these calls and any threats of violence as they come in.”
Swatting is the act of making a hoax call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 19:45
School shooter’s social media accounts being examined by police
Officials are looking at the online activity of Natalie Rupnow – the teenage suspect in Monday’s shooting – as part of their investigation, according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes.
“We’re asking anyone who knew her or who may have insights into her feelings leading up to yesterday to please contact the Madison Area Crime Stoppers,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Barnes added that investigators will “not be releasing specifics about these social media accounts at this time.”
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 19:40
Madison police aware of document shared online about shooting but cannot verify ‘authenticity’
Barnes said the Madison police department was aware of a document shared on social media about Monday’s shooting, but that the force could not verify its authenticity.
“We know a document has been widely shared on social media. At this time we cannot verify its authenticity,” Barnes told a press conference on Tuesday. “We have detectives working today to determine where this document originated, and who actually shared it online.”
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 19:35
Motive of Madison school shooter was ‘a combination of factors’
Police chief Shon Barnes said that the motive behind the school shooting on Monday appeared to have been a “combination of factors” that may have included bullying.
“Identifying a motive is our top priority, but at this time, it appears that the motive was a combination of factors,” he told a press conference on Tuesday. “We cannot share that information at this time because we do not want to jeopardize the investigation and those who are currently cooperating with us.”
Barnes added that police were talking to students about whether bullying may have been a factor in the shooting.
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 19:30
Madison police chief apologizes for mistake over information about 911 call
At a press conference update on Tuesday, Madison police chief Shon Barnes made a clarification about the 911 call following the outbreak of the violence in the school.
The call had come from a second grade teacher at the scool, not a second grader, Barnes said.
“That was a mistake. That’s my responsibility, and I apologize and I clarify that today, it did not come from a second grader. It read second grade teacher,” he said.
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 19:23
Watch live: Authorities hold briefing on Wisconsin school shooting
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 19:16
Madison police to hold press conference shortly
Officials from Madison Police Department will shortly give an update on the investigation into Monday’s school shooting.
The names of the two victims – which were confirmed to be a student and teacher at the Abundant Life Christian School – have yet to be released.
Stay tuned for further live updates from The Independent.
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 19:00
What to know about the Wisconsin school shooting victims
A student and a teacher were killed during the deadly shooting that occurred at the Abundant Life Christian School on Monday in Madison, Wisconsin.
Police were yet to officially name the two ahead of a press conference on Tuesday.
Here’s what we know so far:
Mike Bedigan17 December 2024 18:45