A student opened fire at a private Christian school in Wisconsin, USA, injuring six people and killing a teacher and a teenage student.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes identified the shooter on Monday night as a 15-year-old female student at Abundant Life Christian School. The attacker, who attended the school before opening fire, was found dead at the scene. Six students were wounded, including two with life-threatening injuries.
A second-grade student was the first to report the active shooter, according to Chief Barnes.
“Today is a sad day not only for Madison but for our entire country,” Barnes said, emphasizing the need for better community efforts. He noted that no motive had been established and that the suspect’s family was cooperating with the investigation. Police believe the attacker, named Natalie Rupnow—also known as Samantha—died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, though the official cause of death awaits autopsy results.
Authorities received a 911 call about the incident at around 11:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Monday. The shooting took place in a mixed-grade study hall. Police found the shooter deceased, along with a handgun, and no officers discharged their weapons.
Barbara Wiers, the school’s director of relations, shared that active shooter training conducted earlier this year helped educators respond effectively. Though the school lacks a resource officer, all classroom doors automatically lock, and visitors must be buzzed in through the main entrance. Wiers, who was teaching during the attack, praised the students’ calm and courageous response despite their fear.
Two students remain in critical but stable condition, while four others sustained non-life-threatening injuries—two of whom have already been discharged. Police have not yet identified the victims.
Authorities are seeking witness accounts to help uncover the shooter’s motive but emphasized they will not rush interviews, prioritizing the students’ well-being. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever,” Chief Barnes said.
The incident triggered a significant emergency response, including 15 ambulances and federal support from the FBI. The Abundant Life Christian School, home to approximately 400 students from kindergarten to high school, remains closed as the investigation continues.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers expressed his concern, ordering flags on state buildings to be flown at half-mast. President Joe Biden called the shooting “shocking and unconscionable,” reiterating his plea for Congress to take immediate action to curb gun violence.
School shootings, though tragically frequent in the US, rarely involve female perpetrators. Research shows that most school shooters are teenage or young adult males.
