The 15-year-old Wisconsin school shooter who killed two people and injured six others had attended Christian Academy for less than four months before launching his attack for just eight minutes, school officials said. That's what it means.
Natalie “Samantha” Lupnow, who shot and killed student Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, and teacher Erin West, 42, at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison on Monday, was still in her first semester. , had a hard time attending, but seemed to be getting used to it. the educators said.
Barbara Wiers, the school's director of elementary and communications, said Rapnow's rampage lasted just eight minutes, which was shorter than the students' regular snack break.
Madison city officials said a second-grade teacher called 911. Shooting incident at 10:57 a.m. AM — and the first police officer reportedly arrived at the school four minutes later.
“Are we broken now? Yes. Are we bruised and battered? Yes,” Weiers said. “But we will laugh again, and God will turn our sorrow into joy again, and we will carry on.”
“I pray [her] Because now they've lost their daughter and they're hurt,” Weiers added. “And they're dealing with the fact that their daughter did this terrible thing and hurt other people. That must be one of the loneliest, most painful places to be.”
Police said Rapnow was carrying two handguns when he opened fire at the K-12 school and then turned the guns on himself. She died at a nearby hospital.
The motive for her shooting remains unclear, police said.
Court documents say Rapnow, who reportedly became obsessed with Columbine killer Eric Harris, was in therapy over her unstable home life with her divorced and remarried parents.
Two of the six injured victims remained hospitalized in critical condition on Thursday.
Ms. West worked as a substitute teacher at the school for three years before accepting a staff position as sub-coordinator and substitute teacher in the building. “ALCS is a better school for Erin West's accomplishments,” the school said in a statement.
She was also a mother of three who loved camping with her family, according to her obituary.
“She served her teachers and students with grace, humor, wisdom, and most importantly, the love of Jesus,” the school said. “Her loss is painful and profound, and she will be greatly missed by not only our staff, but the entire ALCS family.”
Vergara was a freshman at the school and was “an avid reader, loved the arts, and sang and played keyboard in her family's worship band,” according to her obituary.
“Ruby has been a blessing to our class and our school,” the school said in a statement. “Not only was she a good friend, but she was also a great sister.”
– with post wire
