A 15-year-old student opened fire inside a study hall at a small Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, killing a teacher and a fellow student before taking her own life. Six others were injured, including two students in critical condition, authorities said.
The shooting at Abundant Life Christian School is exceptionally rare, as female perpetrators account for only about 3% of mass shootings in the United States, according to data from the Violence Project reported by Reuters.
The shooter, identified by authorities as Natalie Rupnow, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived at the scene. She died while being transported to a hospital, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said.
A second grader’s 911 call prompted a swift police response, with officers arriving within three minutes of the first report of an active shooter, Barnes said.
Victims and injuries
Two critically injured students were among six people taken to hospitals following the shooting. A teacher and three other students sustained less serious injuries, two of whom were later released, Barnes said.
Abundant Life Christian School serves about 420 students from prekindergarten through high school. Barbara Wiers, the school’s director of elementary and school relations, said students quickly realized the lockdown was not a drill.
“When they heard, ‘Lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” Wiers said.
She added that the school does not have metal detectors but relies on other security measures, including cameras.
Investigation underway
Authorities have not determined a motive for the shooting or whether the victims were specifically targeted. Investigators believe Rupnow used a 9mm pistol, according to a law enforcement official who spoke with the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Police are working with Rupnow’s family, including her father, who is cooperating with the investigation.
“He lost someone as well,” Barnes said of the shooter’s father. “We’re not going to rush the information. We’ll take our time and make sure we do our due diligence.”
Community and national response
The first 911 call came shortly before 11 a.m., and federal agents later arrived to assist local law enforcement. Parents were reunited with their children at a nearby health clinic, where many were seen holding their children tightly and walking hand in hand.
Bethany Highman, whose daughter was at the school, described her immediate reaction upon learning of the shooting.
“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute,” Highman said. “Nothing else matters.”
In a statement, President Joe Biden called the shooting “senseless violence” and urged Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law, and other gun restrictions.
“We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,” Biden said.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called the incident “unthinkable,” saying, “No child or teacher should go to school and never return home.”
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway urged for more to be done to address gun violence across the country.
“I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” she said.
Rare nature of female shooters
The shooting highlights the rarity of female shooters in mass shooting incidents. According to the Violence Project, as reported by Reuters, women account for just 3% of mass shootings in the United States.
The broader issue of gun violence
The tragedy adds to a growing list of deadly school shootings across the country, including incidents in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas.
Firearms remain the leading cause of death for children in the United States, according to data from KFF, a nonprofit health research organization.
This report includes details from the Associated Press and Reuters.
