A 15-year-old student opened fire in a study hall at a tiny Christian school in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and teenager and prompting a swarm of police officers who responded to a second grader’s 911 call.
In Monday’s shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, a female student injured six others, two of whom were in severe condition, according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes. A teacher and three kids were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, and two were later released.
“Every child, every individual in that building is and will always be a victim. “We have to figure out and try to piece together what happened,” Barnes added.
Natalie Rupnow, the shooter, was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and died on the way to the hospital, according to police. Barnes declined to provide any information about the gunman, partly out of respect for the family.
Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school in Madison, the state capital, with around 420 students from prekindergarten to high school.
Barbara Wiers, the school’s director of elementary and school relations, stated that when they rehearse safety procedures, leaders always announce that it is a drill. That did not happen on Monday, barely one week before Christmas break.
“When they heard, ‘Lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” she told me.
Wiers stated that the school does not have metal detectors but does use other security measures such as cameras.
Barnes said no motive for the shooting was immediately revealed, and it was unclear whether the victims were targeted.
“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” he said to the press.
Barnes stated that police were speaking with the shooter’s father and other family members, who were cooperating, and searching the shooter’s home.
“He lost someone as well,” Barnes said of the shooter’s father. “So we won’t hurry the information. We’ll take our time and perform our due diligence.”
The first 911 call to report an active shooter arrived shortly before 11 a.m. Barnes stated that first responders who were training about 3 miles (about 5 kilometers) away hurried to the school in case of an actual emergency. They arrived three minutes after the first call.
According to the Associated Press, investigators suspect the shooter used a 9mm pistol. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the ongoing inquiry.
Police closed down highways near the school, and federal officers were present to aid local law enforcement. There were no shots fired by police.
Children and families were reunited at a health center approximately a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the school. Parents pressed their children against their chests, while others squeezed their wrists and shoulders as they walked together.
Abundant Life requested prayers in a quick Facebook post. Wiers said they are still contemplating whether to restart lessons this week.
Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, hurried to the school and learned via FaceTime that her daughter was fine.
“When it happens, your world comes to a halt for a moment. “Nothing else matters,” Highman stated. “There is nobody around you. You simply rush for the door and do everything you can as a parent to be with your children.”
President Joe Biden issued a statement citing the tragedy and urging Congress to implement universal background checks, a national red flag law, and specific gun regulations.
“We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,” Mr. Biden said. He called with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, offering his support.
Evers described it as “unthinkable” that a child or teacher would attend school and never come home.
The school massacre was one of many across the United States in recent years, including particularly fatal incidents in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas.
The shootings sparked heated arguments about gun control and ruffled the emotions of parents whose children are becoming accustomed to active shooter exercises in the classroom. However, school shootings have had little impact on national gun restrictions.
Firearms were the biggest cause of death among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a charity that studies health-related issues.
Rhodes-Conway believes the country should do more to avoid gun violence.
“I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” she observed.