A tragic school shooting occurred Monday at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, leaving two people dead and several others wounded. A 15-year-old student opened fire during a study hall session, killing a teacher and a teenage student before taking her own life.
Details of the Incident
According to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, the shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, used a 9mm pistol in the attack. A second grader’s 911 call alerted authorities, prompting a swift response from police, who arrived at the scene just three minutes after the initial report.
The gunfire left six others injured, including two students in critical condition. A teacher and three additional students sustained less severe injuries, with two later released from the hospital.
Chief Barnes expressed the lasting impact on everyone involved, stating, “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever.”
Investigation and Response
Police confirmed that Rupnow was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and died en route to the hospital. Authorities have not determined a motive and are investigating whether the victims were specifically targeted. They are working closely with Rupnow’s family, who have been cooperative.
The school’s director of elementary and school relations, Barbara Wiers, described the terror felt by students and staff. “When they heard, ‘Lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” she said.
Community Impact and Reactions
Parents were reunited with their children at a nearby health clinic. Bethany Highman, whose daughter attends the school, shared her emotional experience: “As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters.”
Abundant Life Christian School, a pre-K through high school institution with about 420 students, asked for prayers in a brief social media post. School officials are still deciding whether to resume classes before the upcoming holiday break.
National Response
President Joe Biden responded by urging Congress to pass gun safety legislation, including universal background checks and a national red flag law. “We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,” Biden stated.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway also expressed their grief and support. “I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” Rhodes-Conway said.
The shooting has reignited the national debate on gun control as communities continue grappling with the devastating toll of gun violence in schools across the U.S.