Teacher and Student Killed in Madison School Shooting; Suspect Dead at Scene
A tragic school shooting occurred Monday morning at Abundant Life Christian School, a private K-12 academy in Madison, Wisconsin, leaving a teacher and a student dead. Authorities identified the suspect as a 15-year-old female student, Natalie Rupnow, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Madison police received a 911 call at 10:57 a.m. CT from a second-grade student reporting the shooting. Responding officers discovered Rupnow with a gunshot wound; she died while being transported to the hospital, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in a press conference.
“A teacher and a teenage student were pronounced dead at the scene,” Barnes confirmed. “Six other students and one teacher were injured and taken to area hospitals. Two students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.”
Three additional students and another teacher were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and two have since been released from the hospital.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities believe Rupnow acted alone, though the motive remains under investigation. Police have recovered the weapon used in the shooting, which occurred during a classroom study hall with students of mixed grades. Barnes noted that evidence suggests Rupnow died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but the medical examiner will confirm the official cause of death.
The suspect’s family, who referred to her as "Samantha," is cooperating with the investigation. Barnes emphasized that there were no prior indications of violence at the school and no known police interactions with the suspect.
"Everyone wants to know what led up to this,” Barnes said. “We need to answer safety questions first, but there’s a lot we still don’t know.”
Parent Reactions and Reunification
Students were evacuated and transported to a nearby reunification center, where anxious families awaited their children. Some parents described harrowing text messages they received from their kids. Rob Nelson, whose 14-year-old daughter texted “not a drill … we heard popping,” recounted the tense moments before reuniting with her.
Viktoriya Gonzales, waiting for her 12-year-old son, said he was “severely traumatized” after being close to the shooter.
Calls for Action
Officials expressed disbelief and grief at the incident. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said, “I hoped this day would never come in Madison,” while Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ordered flags to fly at half-staff through Dec. 22, calling the shooting “unthinkable.”
President Biden described the tragedy as “shocking and unconscionable,” renewing calls for universal background checks, red flag laws, and a ban on assault weapons. “It is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence,” Biden said.
Prepared but Shaken
The Madison Police Department had been conducting a school shooting training exercise just 3 miles away when the call came in. “What began as a training day became an actual day,” Barnes noted.
When asked about school safety, Barnes gave a sobering response: “I can’t guarantee no child will ever be harmed at school. No police chief can. But we have systems in place to respond quickly, as we did today.”
