MADISON, Wis. — The police department in Madison announced that they would not be making any public statements regarding the unusual shooting incident at Abundant Life Christian School, where a teacher and a student were killed, and six others were injured. This decision followed a day after the city’s mayor urged the media to respect the privacy of the victims.

Authorities have remained relatively quiet concerning the motives behind the actions of a 15-year-old student, identified as Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, who tragically shot and killed another student and a teacher before turning the gun on herself. As of Wednesday, two of the injured students were reported to be in critical condition.

While the police chief quickly identified the shooter shortly after the incident took place on Monday, the names of the victims have not yet been disclosed. A representative from UW Health confirmed that no updates could be provided about the three individuals transferred to the hospital. Similarly, the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office declined to comment on the status of ongoing autopsies or provide any information about the victims’ identities.

Tensions around the lack of information were apparent during a press conference on Tuesday when Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes departed without addressing questions. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway exhibited frustration as reporters continued to probe for information that was unavailable to her. “It is absolutely none of your business who was harmed in this incident,” she stated. “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.”

Tamrin Olden, a former spokesperson for a California police department, suggests that it is essential for law enforcement agencies to provide regular updates instead of delaying the dissemination of crucial information. She noted that a failure in communication can create distrust within the community and overshadow the tragedy by focusing on procedural errors rather than honoring the victims.

The police department has been forced to clarify several inaccuracies discussed since Monday, including that three instead of five individuals had died, and that it was a second-grade teacher who called for help, not a student.

Paul Bucher, a former district attorney, observed the tendency of the media to expect immediate updates from officials in the wake of high-profile incidents. He asserted that the government holds no obligation to provide information to the media and noted that the mayor’s remarks reflect a frustration with media intrusion.

However, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council President Bill Lueders emphasized that greater transparency is needed from authorities. He stated, “It’s a problem that so little information has been released. I do not accept that this is necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation. The public has a right to know.” Lueders pointed out that while a state amendment protects crime victims’ identities, it does not prevent the release of information entirely.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the community has been grappling with profound grief. Hundreds gathered in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol for a vigil to honor those who lost their lives, sharing candles and providing support to each other during the frigid winter evening. This gathering was one of many tributes held since the heartrending event.

This latest shooting adds to the statistics of school shootings across the United States, which have included devastating incidents in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas. What differentiates this case is its rarity, as incidents involving female shooters in schools are exceedingly uncommon in the U.S., typically dominated by male perpetrators.

Criminology researcher Emily Salisbury from the University of Utah indicated that females often direct their anger inwardly, potentially leading to serious emotional distress, self-harm, and other issues. She remarked that the extreme violence exhibited by Rupnow raises questions about her past experiences with trauma or violence. “It takes more provocation, more instigation for girls and women to become violent,” she stated, suggesting a possibility that Rupnow had encountered significant hardship or trauma throughout her life.

Court records reveal no criminal allegations against Rupnow’s parents, Jeffrey and Mellissa, who are divorced. She lived primarily with her father, according to legal documents, and reported undergoing therapy in 2022.

Abundant Life Christian School serves around 420 students from prekindergarten through high school. Salisbury emphasized that the school’s religious environment does not make its students immune to bullying or social ostracization. “They’re children,” she remarked. “As much as those values may be taught or discussed in the classroom in the culture of that school, kids are online all the time. Kids create their own culture through social media.”