On December 16, a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, resulted in the deaths of at least three people, including the shooter, and left six others injured. The 15-year-old shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, also known as Samantha, carried out the attack. Madison police were alerted to the incident at approximately 10:57 am.
BREAKING: Multiple people have reportedly been injured in a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. Our hearts go out to the entire Madison community as we continue to monitor the situation.
School shootings should NOT be common. And they wouldn’t be if… pic.twitter.com/IOCsgkrwRD
— GIFFORDS (@GIFFORDS_org) December 16, 2024
At 10:57 am, Madison police were dispatched to Abundant Life Christian School following a 911 call reporting an active shooter. The private, nondenominational school, located in the East Buckeye neighbourhood of Madison, was the scene of the attack. The shooter has been identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, also known as Samantha. She allegedly opened fire inside the school, killing a teenager and a teacher. When police arrived, they found the shooter dead, with Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes stating that it was likely a suicide. Police did not discharge their weapons during the incident.
Barnes confirmed in his statement that a 9mm handgun was recovered from the shooter’s possession. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and an investigation has been launched. Reports indicate that the shooter’s family has been cooperative with authorities, allowing them to search their home and providing information during questioning about the incident.
According to Madison Police and media reports, three individuals, including a teenager and a teacher, lost their lives in the shooting. Their identities have not been disclosed to the public. Additionally, six others were injured in the attack. Two of the students are in critical condition and are fighting for their lives at the hospital, while three students and a teacher sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at nearby hospitals. Reports indicate that four of the injured students, along with the teacher, have since been discharged.
In a statement to the media, Barbara Wiers, Director of Elementary and School Relations, commended the school’s preparedness for such incidents. Reports indicate that the students were well-trained in active shooter drills, with the Madison Police Department providing the training at the beginning of each school year.
Wiers stated, “When they heard ‘lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real.” She emphasized that both students and teachers responded quickly and effectively to the announcement. While the school does not have metal detectors, security measures had recently been strengthened through state-provided grants. The school is equipped with CCTV cameras and visual scanners at entry points to detect any suspicious items.
After the incident, parents were instructed to go to the SSM Health Clinic on Stoughton Road, where a reunification centre had been set up. The students were transported to the clinic to be reunited with their families. However, the process took several hours to complete, leaving parents anxiously waiting for news at the clinic.
As the investigation continues, the school will remain an active crime scene. Classes at Abundant Life Christian School have been cancelled until further notice. However, the Madison Metropolitan School District has confirmed that other schools in the area will resume their normal schedules.
Before the recent incident, Wisconsin had already witnessed four school shootings in 2024. Nationwide, there have been 83 school shootings this year, including 56 at K-12 schools, resulting in 38 deaths.
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