Abundant Life Christian School Shooting: Facts and Questions Page

MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison Police Department is committed to transparency and will continue to release information that can be used to improve public safety. This must be balanced, however, with our commitment to the victims and survivors of the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison.

Two people died and six others were injured during this shooting. Additionally, evidence suggests the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  

This incident has now entered the investigation phase, and the information we can release is limited. This phase takes time. We recognize people have questions, and we will answer them in due time. Until then we ask you keep the victims and survivors in mind and respect their right to privacy.

The Madison Police Department is dealing with a flux of ever-changing information. We thank journalists for recognizing this and working with our department to get accurate information out to our community.

We have put together a list of some questions we’ve been repeatedly asked regarding our criminal investigation. Here is what we can share.

1. What time were you dispatched to the scene? And when did officers enter the school?

   Officers were dispatched for a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School at 10:57 a.m. on Dec. 16. This call generated a multi-jurisdiction response. The first law enforcement officer entered the building at 11 a.m. Twenty-four seconds later, officers with the Madison Police Department entered the building at 11:01. These are times listed in the Computer Aided Dispatch Systems for both the Madison Police and Madison Fire departments. This is the timeline as of Wednesday morning. Given the ever-evolving investigation, this information is subject to change.

2. Has the shooter been identified?

   The shooter has been identified as 15-year-old Natalie L. Rupnow, who went by Samantha. She was a freshman student at Abundant Life Christian School and from Madison.  

3. How many people were injured and died during the shooting?

   A teenage student and a substitute teacher, who was employed part time by the school, were shot and killed on Monday. According to the police investigation, Rupnow, the suspect, also died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two students were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. A teacher and three other students were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

4. Will you be identifying the victims and survivors of the shooting?

   In 2020, voters in Wisconsin approved Marsy’s Law, which is a statewide constitutional amendment that provides additional rights to crime victims in Wisconsin. Marsy’s Law also protects the families of deceased victims. The Madison Police Department will not be providing the names of victims or survivors. The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office released the names of the victims on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

5. Where did the shooting occur?

   The shooting happened inside a study hall classroom full of students from mixed grades. This particular classroom was located on the second floor of the school. One person outside this classroom also was injured after a bullet entered an adjacent room.   

6. Who was the first person to call 911?

   A second-grade teacher was the first person to call 911. The Madison Police Department initially shared a second-grade student made the first 911 call. After an update from Dane County Public Safety Communications (dispatch center), we learned it was a second-grade teacher who made the call. This correction was shared during a press update Tuesday afternoon.  

7. What do you know about the firearm used in this incident?

   The shooter used a handgun. Two firearms were recovered at the school, but only one was used during the shooting. This remains an active investigation. We will not be releasing any more information about these firearms at this time.  

8. What was the motive of this shooting?

   Detectives are still working to identify a motive in this shooting. They are looking into Rupnow’s social media activity, her relationships with students at the school and her family and working to learn about her behavior prior to Monday’s shooting.

9. Did the department execute a search warrant at the shooter’s home? Why was this home damaged?

   After the shooting was reported, officers responded to the home of the shooter. No one answered the door. Out of concern for the physical well-being of anyone who may have been inside and resultantly could not come to the door, officers entered the residence without a warrant, in accordance with the exigent circumstances doctrine. The forced entry of the home occurred using an explosive breeching technique, which allowed officers to maintain a safer distance from the house in case of booby traps. Officers did not locate anyone inside. Later, officers were able to obtain consent to search the residence

10. How did the shooter obtain the gun? Where was the gun purchased? Who purchased the gun? What did the ATF data trace data tell you?

    Two guns were located at the school. At this time, we will not be providing information publicly regarding these weapons, as it could jeopardize our investigation.

11. What was the shooter’s gender identity? Did it play a part in their motive?

    At this time, there is nothing to suggest this played a role in motive. Defining the motive remains a top priority. There appears to be a combination of many factors right now. We'll share this information at a later time when it will not jeopardize the investigation.

12. Has the department been able to authenticate the document or manifesto attributed to the shooter?

    As in any investigation, detectives are looking at the suspect’s online and social media activity. We are aware of a document and possible images of the shooter being floated around online. We currently cannot verify their authenticity. Nor can we confirm any social media accounts potentially belonging to the student due to the ongoing investigation. We ask the public not to share any images or spread false information regarding this investigation.  

13. Describe the process it takes to authenticate a document like the one being attributed to the shooter?

    The process involves identifying whether the original document exists on the suspect’s personal devices, such as a cell phone or laptop, and appears to have been originally created on a device they own.

14. Did the shooter demonstrate any observable behaviors ahead of the shooting?

    We know most school shootings are preventable, and a shooter displays some type of warning sign. Our team is looking to connect to anyone who may have interacted with Natalie Rupnow in the days and weeks leading up to the shooting. People can share information anonymously through Madison Area Crime Stoppers at p3tips.com or by calling 608-266-6014.

15. What was the suspect like as a student? Did they have a history of being bullied or disciplined?

    The disciplinary history pertaining to the suspect is under the purview of the school. We are talking to classmates during the investigation to try to understand their behavior at school and whether they might have been bullied.

16. Was anyone specifically targeted in this attack?

    Detectives are working hard to determine the motive for the attack. If they are able to discover this, it may provide insight into whether there were specific targets. Everyone was targeted; everyone was put in equal danger.

17. Did you talk to the shooter’s parents?

    Detectives interviewed both the mother and father of the shooter and had consent to search both of their homes. Both are cooperating with the investigation.  

18. What resources are available to the community?

    The City has created a website with a list of ways you can help those directly impacted by the shooting at ALCS.  

19. What can you tell me about a person arrested in California potentially linked to this shooting? 
    Any questions about an arrest in San Diego will have to be directed to the FBI.