Shocking new details have emerged about a possible connection between two teenage school shooters. Nashville killer Solomon Henderson, 17, reportedly had ties to Wisconsin shooter Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, 15. Both carried out deadly attacks at Christian schools before ending their own lives.
Investigators say Henderson’s online activity revealed a chilling link to Rupnow. The two appeared to follow similar ideologies and even interacted on social media platforms. Sources told ABC News that Rupnow had followed Henderson online before her own December rampage in Madison, Wisconsin, where she killed two classmates.
Dark posts raise red flags
The connection doesn’t stop there. Just one day before his attack, Henderson allegedly posted a disturbing edited image of Rupnow on Bluesky. Another cryptic post hinted at plans for a shooting involving a second person. It’s unclear whether these posts referred to Rupnow’s December attack or Henderson’s bloodbath this week in Nashville.
Both teens idolized past school shooters. Rupnow shared posts glorifying the Columbine massacre, while Henderson obsessively followed the horrors at Uvalde and Parkland. Their online histories revealed a shared fascination with neo-Nazi ideologies and violent extremism.
Manifesto of hatred
Henderson’s dark mindset came to light in a 51-page manifesto. In it, he expressed violent hatred toward Jewish people and self-loathing as a Black man. He blamed his inability to attract others — identifying as an incel — for his rage.
Rupnow’s motivations remain less clear, but her social media activity painted a disturbing picture. Both teens were drawn to violence and hate-filled ideologies, fueling their deadly actions.
A morning of terror in Nashville
Henderson struck on Wednesday morning at Antioch High School, about 45 minutes from downtown Nashville. He took the school bus, hid in a bathroom, and armed himself with a handgun.
Just after 11 a.m., he entered the cafeteria and targeted 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante. Witnesses say he confronted her before shooting her multiple times. The young girl died on the spot.
Chaos erupted as Henderson fired more shots. One student was hit in the arm and rushed to the hospital. Another suffered a facial injury but was not struck by a bullet.
After the carnage, Henderson turned the gun on himself. Surveillance footage captured the terrifying moments as students and cafeteria workers scrambled for safety.
Two tragedies, similar patterns
Rupnow carried out her attack in December, shooting two classmates before killing herself. Henderson’s rampage followed a similar path, with eerie parallels between their actions.
The discovery of their online connection raises troubling questions. Did these shooters inspire each other? Could these tragedies have been prevented?
Authorities are now delving deeper into their digital footprints. The goal: to uncover the full extent of their link and understand how such hate-filled ideologies spread.
A community in mourning
Antioch High School remains shaken. Vigils are being held for Josselin Corea Escalante, the bright 16-year-old taken too soon. Parents and students are demanding answers.
Law enforcement continues to investigate, hoping to bring some closure to these grieving communities. Meanwhile, the haunting connection between these two killers serves as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in dark corners of the internet.
