A 15-year-old girl who shot dead two people and injured several others at a Christian school in Wisconsin had two guns in her possession at the time of the attack, authorities said Wednesday.
Police Chief Sean Burns said Natalie “Samantha” Lupenau opened fire with two handguns Monday morning at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, killing substitute teacher Erin West and freshman Ruby.・The girl's motive for killing Vergara remains unclear, he said.
“I don't know if she planned it that day or a week in advance,” Burns said. “To me, bringing a gun into a school to hurt someone is premeditated. So I don't know what the plan is.”
Burns said he did not know how Rapnow obtained the two guns and declined to identify the purchasers, citing the ongoing investigation.
Authorities also revealed late Tuesday that Rapnow had been in contact with Alexander Paffendorf, 20, who was planning a coordinated attack on government buildings in California.
A two-page emergency restraining order from the Carlsbad Police Department states: “During FBI interrogation, Paffendorf told Lupnow that he was armed with explosives and a gun and intended to target government buildings. “He admitted this to FBI agents.”
The civil order does not reveal the building where he allegedly planned the attack or the details of his conversation with Lupnow, who died by suicide after the shooting.
A San Diego Superior Court judge approved the order Tuesday night under California's Red Flag Gun Control Act.
The order requires Paffendorf to turn over all guns and ammunition in his possession to police within 48 hours.
Authorities did not provide further details about Mr. Paffendorf's interactions with Mr. Lupnow, other than to say that Mr. Paffendorf had planned a mass shooting with Mr. Lupnow.
Burns said local police, with help from the FBI, are examining online records and interviewing the shooter's parents and classmates to try to determine a motive.
Police said they do not know if anyone was targeted in the attack or if it was planned in advance.
Rapnow is one of only nine girls to commit a school shooting since 1999, and was a year younger than the average school shooter, according to a Washington Post analysis.
with post wire
