MADISON, Wis. — A tragic incident unfolded Monday at a Christian school in Wisconsin, where a 15-year-old student fatally shot a teacher and another teenager using a handgun. The alarming event took place just days before the holiday break, leaving students, including a second grader who made the critical 911 call, deeply shaken as law enforcement responded promptly to the scene.
According to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, the shooter, identified in a late press briefing, also injured six others during a study hall at Abundant Life Christian School, with two of the students in critical condition. Three additional students and a teacher were taken to a hospital for less severe injuries, with two students reported to have been discharged by Monday evening. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. … We need to piece together what exactly happened,” said Barnes.
Barbara Wiers, who oversees elementary and school relations at Abundant Life Christian School, praised the composure exhibited by the students during the crisis. She noted that the school had conducted safety drills at the beginning of the academic year, but on that day, there were no forewarnings as the lockdown was declared. “When they heard, ‘Lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” Wiers mentioned.
When responding officers arrived, they found the shooter, now identified as Natalie Rupnow, with a gunshot wound believed to be self-inflicted, and she died on the way to the hospital. While details have been kept sparse out of respect for the shooter’s family, the police are currently conducting interviews with the shooter’s father and family members to gather more information about the incident.
Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school, accommodating around 420 students from prekindergarten through high school in Madison, the state’s capital. Wiers explained that the school, while it does not employ metal detectors, implements several security protocols, including surveillance cameras.
Parents were ultimately reunited with their children at a nearby health clinic, showing visible signs of relief, holding their children close, and providing comfort amidst the chaos. One young girl was seen wearing an adult-sized coat around her shoulders as families exited a parking lot filled with police vehicles.
The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and authorities are still investigating whether the victims were specifically chosen targets. “I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could prevent these occurrences,” Barnes expressed.
Emergency responders received the first 911 call about an active shooter shortly before 11 a.m., with first responders located just three miles away arriving at the scene a mere three minutes after the call was made. Police promptly entered the building to address the unfolding crisis where classes were in session at that time.
It is suspected that the shooter utilized a 9mm pistol, although sources have chosen to remain anonymous due to the ongoing investigation. Authorities cordoned off streets in the vicinity of the school as federal agents joined local law enforcement in their efforts. Notably, police reported that no shots were fired by their officers during the incident.
In a brief statement on social media, Abundant Life requested prayers for everyone affected. Wiers highlighted the school’s intention to gather staff early in the week and provide opportunities for student reconnection before the winter break, yet the decision to resume classes remains pending.
Concerned parents, filled with dread, rushed to the school, including Bethany Highman, who learned through FaceTime that her daughter was safe. “As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,” she stated, reflecting every parent’s worst fear in such circumstances.
In response to the tragedy, President Joe Biden called on Congress to enforce universal background checks, implement national red flag laws, and enforce specific gun restrictions. “We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,” Biden asserted, having reached out to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway to offer his support.
Evers expressed disbelief about the incident, stating it is “unthinkable” for a child or teacher to go to school and not return home. This shooting adds to the disturbing trend of school shootings in the United States, including tragic incidents in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas, perpetuating heated discussions around gun control and the anxieties faced by parents as their children engage in active shooter drills.
According to KFF, a non-profit focused on healthcare research, firearms were the primary cause of death among children in 2020 and 2021, drawing attention to the urgent need for enhanced preventive measures against gun violence. “I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” Rhodes-Conway remarked, encapsulating the sentiments of a nation searching for solutions.
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Note: The article has been amended to reflect the correct age of the shooter, now confirmed as 15, and clarify that Abundant Life Christian School serves students from prekindergarten through high school, not kindergarten through high school.