MADISON, Wis. — A teacher and a teenage student are dead after a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. The suspected 15-year-old female shooter committed suicide.
Natalie Rupnow, who went by as Samantha Rupnow on social media and a student from the school, was identified as the ALCS shooter during a 8:30 p.m. media debrief Monday night.
The shooting happened in a study hall with students in different grades, Madison police said.
At this time police will not release names of the victims until all families have been notified and okay with that information being released.
According to Madison police at the late night debrief, this was the timeline:
A second-grader called 911 at 10:57 a.m. to report the shooting.
A Dane County deputy was the first to arrive at the scene at 11 a.m.
Officers alerted people the shooter was down and recovered the gun at 11:05 a.m.
The Madison Fire Department were dispatched and arrived at the scene at 11:05 a.m.
The first incident report sent out by the City of Madison Police Department was sent out at 11:13 a.m.
Officers began to clear the school at 11:14 a.m.
Bomb dogs were brought in to clear the facility at 11:23 a.m.
Treated victims began to be transported to local hospitals at 11:26 a.m.
The next briefing is scheduled for Tuesday at 1 p.m.
SSM Health said in a 6:39 p.m. update that it treated four injured patients. Two patients have been discharged and two are in stable condition.
No access will be allowed at the K-12 school this evening, as posted by the Madison Police Department’s Facebook page.
Students have been reunited with their families, according to the police chief.
The school posted on its Facebook page at 8:02 p.m. the following:
All of our students have been united with their parents and we are grateful for all the support. We have been flooded with thoughts & prayers. This great nation is behind us. So grateful for the tsunami of prayers for our students, staff, & families. The latest information will be shared at 8:30p by Madison Police.
It was revealed by the Director of Elementary and School Relations, Barbara Weirs, that the school does not have metal detectors, but does follow safety protocols. Weirs said the school conducted a practice school lockdown at the beginning of the academic year.
The News 3 Now team has talked to witnesses, including a student and a mother. The young student recalled getting ready for lunch when she heard the gunshots.
The shooting was reported at 10:57 a.m. at 4901 East Buckeye Road with officers arriving at 11 a.m. Multiple injuries were reported.
Madison police confirmed that a north-side home that was searched by police afternoon Monday is in fact related to the shooting, but will not provide further comments.
Six other people were injured. Two of them are in critical condition while the other four, one teacher and three students, suffered non-life threatening injuries. Two of the four people who survived were released from the hospital.
Madison police had earlier erroneously said that five people were dead and five were hurt.
Roads around the 4900 block of Buckeye Road will be blocked off as law enforcement investigate.
Parents and students were reuniting at the SSM Health building at the intersection of East Buckeye Road and Stoughton Road.
“It’s a little shocking. You always see it on TV that it happens somewhere else,” Guy Nelson, who lives near the school, said. “You know, you feel bad, but you don’t realize the situation when it’s here in your back. It’s basically a block away from me. So it’s my backyard and it’s very scary.
A Madison Metropolitan School District spokesperson said nine district schools were put on secure hold due to the shooting. That hold was lifted at 1:15 p.m.
MMSD classes will continue as scheduled Tuesday.
Gov. Tony Evers released the following statement on the shooting:
I am closely monitoring the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.
Evers also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff beginning immediately until sunset on Sunday out of respect for the victims of the shooting.
He issued a second statement Monday afternoon:
There are no words to describe the devastation and heartbreak we feel today after the school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison this morning.
Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin in praying for the families and loved ones of those whose lives were so senselessly taken and for the educators, staff, and the entire Abundant Life school community as they grapple with the grief, trauma, and loss of this gut-wrenching tragedy. We are also praying and hoping all those injured survive and recover.
Kathy and I are also keeping in our hearts the first responders who acted quickly and ran toward danger to help save lives. This day will no doubt weigh heavily on them, and we are grateful for their critical response efforts in answering the call when they were needed most.
As a father, a grandfather, and as governor, it is unthinkable that a kid or an educator might wake up and go to school one morning and never come home. This should never happen, and I will never accept this as a foregone reality or stop working to change it.
Today my focus is on supporting these families and kids and the Abundant Life community, and the state stands ready to support them and the efforts of local law enforcement through what will undoubtedly be difficult days ahead.
Dane County Executive Melissa Agard also issued a statement on the shooting:
Today, our community is reeling from the heartbreaking and senseless tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, the students, educators, and everyone affected by this unimaginable and unacceptable violence.
Dane County stands united in grief with the Abundant Life Christian School community. We are committed to supporting the school, its students, and their families during this devastating time, and will work closely with law enforcement and other first responders, mental health professionals, and community leaders to provide resources and care for those who need it most.
No community should ever have to endure such a tragedy. My administration will do everything in its power to provide assistance in the face of this devastating loss. To all those grieving, please know that you are not alone. Dane County stands with you, and we are here to support you in any way possible. I have been in communication with the Governor’s office as well as the Mayor of Madison’s office and we will continue to update the public as we learn more.
This is a breaking news story. This article will be updated when we learn more information.
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