Update on the School Shooting at Abundant Life Christian School

Hello neighbors

As I’m sure you have heard, tragedy struck our city this morning and the news we’ve never wanted to hear became a reality in Madison, Wisconsin.

At about 10:57am, a 2nd grade student called 911 to report that there had been a shooting inside Abundant Life Christian School on Buckeye Road. MPD was immediately dispatched, along with medics from the Madison Fire Department. A deputy sheriff was first to arrive on the scene at 11:00 am, followed by an MPD Officer, who immediately entered the school at 11:01. Others arrived on the scene to find multiple people with gunshot wounds. Medics and officers provided aid to the injured.

Three people, including the shooter, are dead. The suspect in the shooting has been identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow who went by the name of Samantha. She was a student at the school and evidence suggests she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but the Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death. She was pronounced deceased while in transport to a local hospital. A teacher and a teenage student were pronounced dead at the scene. Six other students and a teacher were injured and taken to area hospitals, two students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. A teacher and three students were treated for non-life threatening injuries, two of these have been discharged, and the other two survivors are considered to be in stable condition.

By 11:05, the shooter was down and a weapon had been recovered. A reunification area was set up for families to reconnect with their children. The first notice of the shooting was posted at 11:13 am on MPD’s facebook page. Bomb dogs began to clear the scene at 11:23. EMS began to transport victims to a local hospital at 11:26.

At this time it is believed there was only one shooter involved.

The shooting happened inside a classroom during a study hall filled with students of various grades. The school is being monitored overnight and no one is allowed on the property at this time. The location is still an active crime scene.

Later this afternoon, the home where the suspected shooter lived, on Delaware Blvd, on the Northside, was searched in conjunction with this shooting. That search continues into the evening.

Thank you to all who provided vital help in this shooting response. The Madison Police Department, the Madison Fire Department, UW Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, multiple local law enforcement agencies, the Dane Co. Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, ATF, the ALCS school staff, Dean Health Care, who closed down for business and provided a safe space, restaurants who graciously provided food to students and families at the reunification location as they waited, and others.

The Crime Response Unit has been mobilized for anyone needing care. You can call 608-284-6908 during the day and 608-376-0164 (after hours).

For addition resources and information, please read this statement:

https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/2024-12-16/statement-on-abundant-lif…

More information will be released at tomorrow’s press conference at 1pm.

All updates regarding the Abundant Life Christian School will be posted here: https://www.cityofmadison.com/police/newsroom/incidentreports/incident.cfm?id=32291.

Let’s come together and support each other at this difficult time for our community. The Boys and Girls Club of Dane County is hosting a candlelight vigil tomorrow evening (Tuesday December 17) at 6 pm at the Vel Phillips statue on Capitol Square.

Sincerely,

Charles Myadze

District 18 Alder