After shooting at Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, here's what we know so far
Two people were killed and several others were wounded in a shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday that also left the suspected shooter dead, officials said. At least six people were hurt in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, authorities said, with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.
Officers responded to the school, located at 4901 East Buckeye Road, around 11 a.m. following a 911 call from a second grader reporting the shooting. The shooting was confined to a classroom where study hall with students from several different grades was being held, police said.
What do we know about the suspected shooter?
The shooter was identified by police as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow. Rupnow was a student at the school and went by Samantha, Madison Chief of Police Shon F. Barnes said Monday night.
Barnes said Rupnow appears to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was pronounced dead while being taken to the hospital.
"They found the person who they believe was responsible, who was down, deceased," he said earlier in the day of how the shooter was discovered.
Authorities said the suspected shooter was dead by the time officers arrived, and no police fired their weapons.
He said the shooter's motivation is not yet known. Barnes also could not say how the shooter obtained a gun, but that it would be part of the investigation.
"What we do know is that this child obviously was very troubled. There's usually some type of warning signs that we all may have missed and so we have to understand that we have to come together as a community," Barnes said in an interview with "CBS Mornings" on Tuesday. "We have to wrap our arms around our children and understand what's going on in their lives."
Police have made contact with the suspected shooter's family, Barnes said, and the family was cooperating with police.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was working on an "urgent trace" of the firearm used in the shooting.
A handgun was recovered after the shooting, Barnes said. As of Monday evening, it was not yet clear where the gun came from. It's not yet known how many shots were fired.
A law enforcement source said the weapon used in the shooting appears to have been a 9 mm pistol.
It is extremely rare for women to carry out mass shootings. Exact figures vary slightly, depending on how a research group defines what constitutes a mass shooting, but their findings overwhelmingly point to the same pattern. Data generally show men make up more than 95% of perpetrators, while women make up less than 5%. Of 195 mass shootings that the nonprofit Violence Prevention Group tracked between 1966 and 2022, just 4 of the shooting perpetrators were women, and 192 were men.
What do we know about the victims of the school shooting?
Other than the suspected shooter, two people were killed — a teenage student and a teacher — officials said. At least six people were injured, including two who were in critical condition with injuries that were considered life-threatening.
Police have not yet publicly identified the victims. Names will not be released until after officers speak with family members who lost loved ones in Monday's shooting.
"Our community is really reeling from what happened last night and we're really trying to put the pieces together to bring some answers to our community," Barnes said on "CBS Mornings."
According to Pastor Chris Dolson, who was speaking at a vigil for the victims on Monday night, the teacher may have been a substitute.
"There's a woman who called in sick today. She's a teacher. And there was a substitute that came in to take her place that was shot and killed," Dolson said. "Survivor guilt kicks in when those things happen."
CBS News has not independently confirmed the teacher's identity.
As of Monday evening, two injured people have been released from the hospital, Barnes said. The police chief initially said all of the injured victims were students, but later said a teacher was among the wounded. The two people who were still in the hospital were in stable condition as of Monday night.
"I'm feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas," said Barnes. "Every child, every person in that building, is a victim and will be a victim forever. These types of trauma don't just go away."
Barnes taught history at a public high school for four years before switching to a career in law enforcement and said Monday's shooting impacted him tremendously.
"I've always had a big heart for school and education, as someone who values the sanctity of school and understanding and being in that position to know how dedicated teachers really are to understanding that our kids need to be safe in order to learn," he said on "CBS Mornings."
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital–Madison said it had received patients after the shooting. UW Health also said it was receiving patients from the shooting.
What do we know about Abundant Life Christian School?
Abundant Life Christian School is a private K-12 school founded in 1978, according to its website. The school has about 420 students, a school administrator said.
"Prayers Requested! Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS," the school posted on Facebook.
The school describes itself as a "private, nonprofit, nondenominational K-12 institution founded for the purpose of developing disciples of Jesus Christ through an excellent, comprehensive, Biblically-integrated educational program that is thoroughly Christian in content, context, and practice."
Barnes was asked about metal detectors at the school during a Monday news conference.
"I'm not aware that the school had metal detectors, nor should schools have metal detectors. It's a safe space," Barnes said.
Barbara Wiers, the school's director of Elementary & School Relations, confirmed that while there are no metal detectors at the school, there are security protocols.
"Every student is visually scanned before they go up to their locker spaces or into their classrooms," Wiers said during a press conference.
There are cameras in the building, which students are aware of, Wiers said. The cameras are regularly monitored in the office.
What are the gun laws in Wisconsin?
The Giffords Law Center, which reviews gun laws, gave Wisconsin a C on its annual scorecard.
According to the center, "the state still lacks a number of key policies that would go a long way toward reducing gun violence."
In Wisconsin, possession of a firearm under the age of 18 is a misdemeanor, while selling, loaning or giving a gun to a person under the age of 18 is a felony. It's also a state crime to allow a child under the age of 14 to be within reach of a loaded firearm.
Bringing a loaded weapon into a school is also a crime.
President Biden, Gov. Evers respond to Wisconsin shooting
President Biden was briefed on the Wisconsin shooting, a White House Official said. Mr. Biden called the shooting shocking and unconscionable, and called on Congress to act.
"From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that don't receive attention — it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence. We cannot continue to accept it as normal. Every child deserves to feel safe in their classroom. Students across our country should be learning how to read and write – not having to learn how to duck and cover."
Gov. Tony Evers ordered the U.S. and Wisconsin flags flown at half-staff after the shooting.
"As a father, a grandfather, and as governor, it is unthinkable that a kid or an educator might wake up and go to school one morning and never come home," Evers said. "This should never happen, and I will never accept this as a foregone reality or stop working to change it.
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who founded a national gun violence prevention organization, said her heart went out to the Madison community.
"Just days after we remembered the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School, another school community has been subjected to the terror of a mass shooting in Madison," Giffords said in a statement. "Students deserve to attend school free from gun violence, but in our country, it is the number one killer of children—a devastating, preventable tragedy that demands action from our elected leaders."
How many school shootings have happened in 2024 so far?
Monday's shooting happened just days after the victims of the Dec. 14, 2012, Sandy Hook school shooting were remembered.
According to Education Week, there have been 38 school shootings this year that resulted in injuries or deaths.
Earlier this month, two kindergarteners were wounded in a Northern California school shooting.
In the last four years, school shootings have killed more than 200 people and injured more than 600, according to a CBS News analysis of the K-12 School Shooting Database.
