SAN DIEGO — A man from California expressed his remorse in court regarding his connection to a 15-year-old girl who tragically shot two individuals at a religious school in Wisconsin. During a hearing on Friday, Alexander Paffendorf conveyed his willingness to face the repercussions of his actions, though he refrained from providing details about his specific involvement. The judge extended a current order to seize his firearms and ammunition until April 4.
Paffendorf’s brief apology came as authorities revealed that he had communicated with the shooter, Natalie Rupnow, about plans to attack a government facility using firearms and explosives. The incident occurred at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, where the shooter claimed the lives of 14-year-old student Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin Michelle West, while leaving two other students with serious injuries before turning the gun on herself. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown at this time.
Following the tragic events on December 16, a restraining order was imposed against the then-20-year-old Paffendorf by a California judge, invoking the state’s red flag law concerning firearm possession. This legal action mandated that he surrender his weapons to law enforcement. Notably, Paffendorf has yet to face any formal charges related to the incident.
Appearing virtually in a collared shirt and tie, Paffendorf indicated his readiness for a discussion regarding the validity of the restraining order. However, the proceedings were postponed by San Diego Superior Court Judge Devon Lomayesva after a representative from the city of Carlsbad informed the court of Paffendorf’s ongoing criminal investigation. The judge determined it would be prudent to delay the case, considering Paffendorf did not have legal representation and was under investigation.
A detective informed the judge that the FBI anticipates concluding its investigation in two to three months. The restraining order does not specify which government building was allegedly targeted by Paffendorf or the timing of any intended attack, nor does it elucidate the nature of his communications with the shooter beyond the indication of a plotted mass shooting.
