In Madison, Wisconsin, a father has been charged with multiple felonies following a tragic school shooting incident involving his daughter. This development comes after a comprehensive investigation into the events leading up to the attack, where his daughter, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, tragically ended the lives of two individuals—a teacher and a fellow student—at Abundant Life Christian School.
Jeffrey Rupnow, aged 42, faces serious charges, including intentionally providing weapons to a minor leading to death and contributing to the juvenile delinquency of his daughter. The charges arose from his granting his daughter access to firearms, which she utilized during the attack. The authorities filed the criminal complaint on Wednesday, but it was not made public until after his arrest and detention in Dane County Jail.
Scheduled to appear in court, Jeffrey Rupnow currently has no legal representation listed in the court records. During the investigation, Acting Madison Police Chief John Patterson highlighted Rupnow’s cooperation with law enforcement officers. Attempts to contact him and his former wife, Melissa Rupnow, have not yielded any responses. The shooting, which occurred at a religious institution offering classes from prekindergarten through high school, resulted in the deaths of teacher Erin Michelle West and 14-year-old student Rubi Bergara, along with six others wounded. Natalie subsequently took her own life.
Detailed in the official complaint, Natalie had acquired a 9 mm Glock purchased by Jeffrey Rupnow, along with a .22-caliber Sig Sauer pistol given to her as a Christmas gift. Additionally, investigators retrieved a total of 20 shell casings from the site of the incident. During the attack, she wore a black T-shirt with a bull’s-eye emblem, further indicating the premeditated nature of her actions.
Struggling with her parents’ divorce, Natalie had reportedly expressed deep dissatisfaction with her life. Her father admitted to law enforcement that she had resorted to self-harm previously, leading him to lock away knives. However, he endeavored to form a connection with her, using firearms as a common interest. Despite his initial intentions, this later transformed into a significant issue as her fascination with weapons intensified, which he found alarming.
The access to her firearms was through a gun safe, with the combination being something as personal as his Social Security number in reverse. The day before the incident, Jeffrey Rupnow had allowed Natalie to clean a gun, and later failed to verify if it was properly secured afterward. The negligence surrounding the secure storage of firearms and the ease of access Natalie had are key aspects of the charges against her father.
Upon searching Natalie’s room, authorities uncovered a disturbing document titled “War Against Humanity,” where she expressed disdain for humanity, criticized her family environment, and detailed her admiration for previous school shooters. Her writings, along with sketches and models of the school, depicted a meticulously orchestrated attack plan, underscoring her intent.
In retrospect, Jeffrey Rupnow acknowledged his critical error in teaching her firearm handling, perceiving it as a vital lesson gone awry. He expressed regret through messages to authorities, aiming to warn others about the potential consequences of leaving such knowledge within reach of impressionable minds, akin to security breaches.
In a broader context, this case is part of a series of legal actions against parents whose children have committed acts of school violence. Similar charges have been pursued in other cases nationwide, reflecting growing accountability on the part of parents in preventing gun violence by minors. This underscores a national conversation about parental responsibility and gun control, particularly concerning minors with access to firearms.