More details have emerged about the 15-year-old girl who police say killed a teacher and a teenage student in Monday's shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wis., and school officials say the girl It was revealed that the incident occurred during the first semester at the same school. The terrifying attack lasted eight minutes.
Natalie Rapnow opened fire in a study hall at Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS) just before 11 a.m., killing a fellow student and a teacher and injuring two students with life-threatening injuries, police said. Six people were injured, including The motive for the killing is unknown, and Lupunow took his own life during the incident.
Barbara Wiers, the school's director of elementary and communications, said Lupnow was a new student at the school and teachers did not have any major concerns about her.
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Weiers added that the attack lasted eight minutes. This was shorter than the school's regular snack break. She said the community's trust and connection to each other is sustaining it as it grapples with the possibility that the shooter's motives remain unexplained.
The 15-year-old girl who police say killed a teacher and a student at a Christian school in Wisconsin was in the school's first semester, and school officials said the attack lasted eight minutes. did. Dan Beasley, left, stands with a handmade cross he brought from Michigan for the victims of the mass shooting. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave, left; AP Photo/Molly Gash, right.)
Police said they received a 911 call at 10:57 a.m. and the first officers entered the building at 11 a.m.
“Are we broken now? Yes. Are we bruised and battered? Yes,” Weiers told The Associated Press. “But we will laugh again, and God will turn our sorrow into joy again, and we will go on.”
The news comes amid revelations that Rapnow was in contact with a 20-year-old man in California, who authorities allege was planning a mass shooting with her.
A Carlsbad man told FBI agents that he had been sending messages to Rapnow about attacking government buildings with guns and explosives, according to a restraining order obtained by The Associated Press. The order does not say which buildings he targeted or when he planned to launch the attack. Also, no details are given about the interaction with Lupnow.
Madison police said determining a motive for the killing remains a top priority and there is nothing to suggest the suspect's gender was a factor.
(Ruby Patricia Vergara, left, and teacher Erin M. West)
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Madison Police Chief Sean Burns said Wednesday that police, with help from the FBI, are reviewing online records and other resources and interviewing the shooter's parents and classmates to determine a motive.
Police are aware that documents and possible images of the shooter have been shared online, but cannot confirm their authenticity and, due to an ongoing investigation, belong to the student. He also said he could not confirm any possible social media accounts.
“Every child, every person in that building, is a victim and will forever be a victim,” Barnes said Tuesday. We need to try to piece it together.” “We may never know what she was thinking that day, but we will do our best to add and provide as much information as possible to the public.”
The suspect brought two guns to the school, but it is unclear how he obtained the weapons. However, only one gun was allegedly used by Lupnow.
Rapunau's deceased victims, 14-year-old student Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin M. West, will be buried over several days.
Vergara's funeral is scheduled for Saturday at City Church, which is adjacent to the school, and West's funeral will be held Monday at Doxa Church in Madison, where she was a member, according to obituaries published Wednesday and Thursday. .
Vergara was a freshman at ALCS, according to her obituary.
“She was an avid reader, loved the arts, and sang and played keyboard in her family's worship band. She had a special bond with her beloved pets, Ginger (the cat) and Coco (the dog). ,” the obituary reads.
West is survived by her husband and three daughters. She had worked at the school for the past four years. The first three of those times she worked as a substitute teacher before taking on staff positions as sub-coordinator and in-building substitute teacher.
Emergency vehicles are parked outside Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
Officials said four of the six injured have been released from the hospital. Two students with life-threatening injuries remain hospitalized.
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“Erin enjoyed family camping trips, attending school sporting events, serving at Doxa Church, and spending time with her daughters and family,” the obituary said. .
“ALCS is a better school for Erin West's accomplishments,” the school said in a statement.
“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.”
Fox News' Stepheny Price, Greg Wehner, Stephen Sorace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
