A devastating school shooting occurred on Monday at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, leaving two people dead and six others injured. The attacker, identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to police, the emergency call that alerted authorities to the shooting was made by a child no older than seven or eight years old. The child, who was in the second grade, called 911 just before 11:00 local time, prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
“Let that soak in for a minute,” said Police Chief Shon Barnes, highlighting the gravity of the situation. The motive behind the attack is still unclear, and the police are expected to provide further updates at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
The victims, who have not been named, include a teacher and a teenage pupil. Two students are facing life-threatening injuries, while four others were taken to hospital and two have since been released.
Rupnow, who also went by the first name Samantha, was a student at the school. She is believed to have acted alone in the attack, which was confined to a study hall with students in mixed grades.
Chief Barnes noted that the police are aware of a text allegedly posted online by Rupnow, but its authenticity has not been verified. The FBI has been informed, and Rupnow’s family is cooperating with the investigation.
Several students who witnessed the attack have spoken to local media, including 8-year-old Nora Gottschalk, who described hearing shots ring out while getting ready for lunch. “I was really scared and I was really sad,” she said.
The school’s director of relations noted that pupils had received training for a mass shooting earlier this year, which would have been “very fresh” in their minds.
President Joe Biden condemned the shooting as “shocking and unconscionable,” calling on lawmakers to take immediate action on legislation to prevent further gun violence. The incident is the latest in a series of mass shootings in the US, including at schools. According to EducationWeek, 38 school shootings have caused deaths or injuries this year, resulting in 69 victims, including 16 deaths, before Monday’s attack.
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