An accomplice to the Wisconsin school shooter has been detained for allegedly planning a coordinated attack.
Alexander Paffendorf, 20, of Carlsbad, was detained by FBI agents on suspicion of plotting a mass shooting against government facilities with Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, according to an emergency gun violence restraining order.
According to the order: “During an FBI interview, Paffendorf admitted to the FBI agents that he told Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun that he would target a government building.”
It was also noted that FBI agents “viewed the messages from Paffendorf to Rupnow.”
On Tuesday, a San Diego judge issued the order, and required Paffendorf to surrender any firearms and ammunition, and prohibited him from acquiring any more.
Shortly later, neighbors reported seeing more than a dozen police cars enter the apartment complex where Paffendorf resides.
Alex Gallegos, a nearby resident, said: “They had their entire guns out all over the street. They were police cars. I think there are roughly 15 cops here.”
He went on to say that he observed cops leaving the building with a “black gun box”.
“I saw them carry out the large package. I didn’t see anyone arrested, but they gave high-fives at the conclusion,” he claimed.
Paffendorf is now due in court on January 3rd.
It was unclear how Paffendorf knew Rupnow, and Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said he had no information about the California arrest and sent queries to the FBI.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin authorities are still investigating Rupnow’s motive for the Monday shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, stating that it appears to have been a “combination of factors”.
“Some have queried if someone was specifically targeted. Barnes stated that everyone was targeted in this incident and placed in equal jeopardy.
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office announced Wednesday that substitute coordinator Erin West, 42, and 14-year-old Rubi Patricia Vergara were killed in the attack before Rupnow, 15, turned the gun on herself.
Six others were wounded in the shooting, and two were left in critical condition.
It’s unclear if any of the victims were directly targeted in the attack.
However, Lyndsay O’Connor, a mother of two survivors, said that Rupnow’s target could have been the regular study hall teacher, who was not there due to a “planned absence” – but her theory has yet to be confirmed by police.
She stated, “We’re not sure if her target was the original teacher or just the students in the class. She would have had to stroll by the entrance, which was open.
Barnes stated Wednesday that Rupnow had two handguns with her during the incident but only used one to carry it out, adding that he has no idea how the teenager obtained the weapons.
He stated: “We may never know what she was thinking that day, but we will do our best to try to add or give as much information to our public as possible.”