A tragic school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday left a teenage student, a teacher dead, and six others injured.
Authorities confirmed that the emergency 911 call was made by a second-grade pupil, a child no older than seven or eight years old.
“Let that soak in for a minute,”said Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes during a press briefing, highlighting the harrowing reality of the situation.
The shooter, identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who also went by the name Samantha, was a student at the private Christian school. She was found dead at the scene from what police believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No officers fired during the incident.
The shooting occurred just before 11:00 a.m. local time (17:00 GMT) in a study hall where students from mixed grades were present. Police say two of the injured students are facing life-threatening injuries, while four others were taken to hospital, with two later released.
The victims’ names have not yet been disclosed.
Eyewitness accounts from students and parents paint a harrowing picture.Nora Gottschalk, an eight-year-old pupil, told CNN affiliate WISC that she was preparing for lunch when the shots rang out. “I was really scared and I was really sad,” she recalled, adding that she saw an injured teacher screaming for help.
Sixth-grader Adler Jean-Charlesrecounted hearing two gunshots during his English class. “Some people started crying and then we just waited until the police came,” he said.
Bethany Highman, a former student whose daughter now attends the school, shared her anguish: “I pray with my kids every morning that this won’t happen, and it’s the world we live in,” she told WMTV.
Authorities are still working to determine the shooter’s motive. Madison Police Chief Barnes confirmed that some online texts, allegedly written by Rupnow, are being reviewed, though their authenticity remains unverified. “We’re certainly aware that it’s been posted, and the person who posted it alleged to have a connection,”Barnes said, adding that the FBI is now involved.
Rupnow’s family has been cooperating with investigators, and a property north of Madison was reportedly searched on Monday.
The school’s director of relations noted that the students’ recent mass-shooting training likely helped them respond during the attack.
President Joe Biden condemned the shooting as “shocking and unconscionable” and renewed calls for lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at curbing gun violence.
According to EducationWeek, the shooting marks the 39th school-related incident involving injuries or fatalities in the US this year. Prior to Monday’s attack, 69 victims – including 16 deaths – had been recorded in such incidents.
While mass shootings in schools have tragically become common in the US, attacks perpetrated by female shooters remain exceedingly rare.
Abundant Life Christian School, which serves around 400 students from kindergarten to high school, remains closed as investigations continue. Police are urging anyone with further information to come forward.
A follow-up press conference is expected on Tuesday afternoon as the community grapples with the tragedy and seeks answers.
