MADISON, Wis. — Three people are dead and six are injured after a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, police said.
Among those dead are the suspected shooter, a teacher, and a student, according to the Madison Police Department (MPD).
Police identified the suspected shooter as Natalie Rupnow, 15, a student at the school, and said she went by the name Samantha. They believe she acted alone.
Latest updates:
Madison police will continue their investigation at the school on Tuesday, Dec. 17. A news conference will be held at Madison Fire House 14 at 1 p.m.
Live updates from Monday, Dec. 16:
8:55 p.m. — Police provide an update on shooting victims, suspected shooter
Madison police held a press conference at 8:30 p.m. to provide an update on the shooting, saying the suspected shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A teacher and a teenage student were killed in the shooting. Two injured students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
One injured teacher and three injured students have non-life-threatening injuries, and two students have been released from the hospital.
Madison police said a second-grade student called 911 to report the shooting. In a press conference on Tuesday, police corrected this information and said a second-grade teacher made the call.
8:42 p.m. — Police address a manifesto circling online
Madison police addressed a manifesto circling online and said that they are aware of it, but are trying to get in touch with those close to Rupnow and confirm the document.
8:33 p.m. — Suspected shooter identified, motive still remains unclear
The suspected shooter was identified as Natalie Rupnow, 15, who Madison police said was a student at the school.
Police say the suspected shooter went by the name Samantha. They are still working to find a motive for the shooting. They believe she acted alone.
7:02 p.m. – Madison police say there will be no access to Abundant Life Christian School this evening
The Madison Police Department said there will be no access to Abundant Life Christian School this evening, and that no one is being allowed onto school grounds except law enforcement.
The announcement comes as police say they are aware of potential vigils being planned outside the school this evening.
5:43 p.m — Madison police say reunification has been completed for students and families; did not confirm the age or gender of the suspected shooter.
The Madison Police Department says reunification has been completed for students and families, according to a press conference held to update the public on the shooting.
Police also confirmed that an investigationin a Madison neighborhood on the city’s north side—where a neighbor reported hearing flash bangs and seeing police with long guns between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.—is related to the school shooting investigation.
During the update, police did not confirm the age or gender of the suspected shooter. Reunification for staff members is still underway, according to police.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear. They plan to hold another press conference at 8:30 p.m.
4:06 p.m. — AP reports the suspected shooter was a 17-year-old female student
A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that the suspected shooter was a 17-year-old female student.
4:01 p.m. — President Joe Biden releases a statement, calling for Congress to pass gun safety laws
President Joe Biden issued a statement expressing shock and offering prayers for all victims, both those killed and injured. He also said his team had reached out to local officials to offer further support.
In his statement, Biden called on Congress to pass gun safety laws.
“Congress must pass commonsense gun safety laws: universal background checks, a national red flag law, a ban on assault weapons, and high-capacity magazines,” Biden said in a statement Monday. “We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart.”
4 p.m. — TMJ4 is following an active police investigation in a Madison neighborhood on the city’s north side.
A neighbor, who spoke with TMJ4 off camera, said they heard flash bangs and saw police with long guns between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
At the time, it was unclear if the investigation was related to the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School. TMJ4 spoke with the Madison Police Department officers on the scene of the investigation, but they did not provide any information at the time.
3:13 p.m. — Local community leaders organize a candlelight vigil
The Boys & Girls Clubs announced Monday afternoon that they will hold a candlelight vigil Tuesday at the State Capitol in front of the Vel Phillips statue with the Mayor, Bishop Stubbs, the MMSD School Superintendent, the United Way CEO, “the Focus Interuption CEO”, and other community leaders from around the city.
That’s expected to happen at 6 p.m.
The State Capitol is located at 2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703.
2:30 p.m. —- Madison Police Department shares update; three dead, six injured, suspected shooter was a teenage student who attended the school
Six others were injured, including two students who are in critical condition at a hospital, police said.
The other four injured individuals, all students, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the suspected shooter was a teenage student who attended the school. Their age and gender were not released.
The school has been cleared, and police said there is no ongoing threat, that the shooter was dead upon their arrival, and that no officers fired their weapons.
2:30 p.m. ——Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers weighs in
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers also weighed in on the tragedy at a Milwaukee Bucks press conference, expressing his frustration.
“Just a shame that this just keeps happening,” Rivers said. “Kids can’t go to school safe and it just seems like we don’t do anything about it.”
Doc Rivers on the tragic shooting in Madison. pic.twitter.com/Ocmobmnhf7
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 16, 2024
1:53 p.m — Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson calls for legislative change
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson also joined the conversation, sharing a heartfelt message on social media, expressing grief over the tragedy and calling for legislative change.
“Legislators at the state Capitol and at the U.S. Capitol have to stop wringing their hands,” Johnson said in a post on X. “There are changes they can make that will help reduce gun violence in schools.”
My heart is heavy following the shooting at a Madison school. I can’t imagine the pain for families, teachers and students. https://t.co/2HwXnSvCAk
— Mayor Cavalier Johnson (@MayorMKE) December 16, 2024
12:16 p.m. — Governor Tony Evers issues statement, orders flags to be flown at half-staff
Governor Tony Evers released a statement on X saying he's "closely monitoring the incident" and that he's "praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community."
Evers is ordering the flags of the United States and the State of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff beginning immediately until sunset on Sunday, Dec. 22.
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.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) December 16, 2024
12 p.m. —- Reunification area for families established, officers ask people to avoid the area of East Buckeye Road.
The SSM Health/Dean Clinic on Stoughton Road was used as a reunification area for families, according to WMTV.
In response to its use as a reunification center, leaders with the clinic chose to end all operations for the day. Staff said they would reach out to patients to reschedule appointments.
Officers asked people to avoid the area of East Buckeye Road.
11:26 a.m. – Patients are transported.
11:14 a.m. – Officers begin clearing the school.
MPD Chief Shon Barnes says his officers train on these types of scenarios almost every quarter and had their most recent training about two weeks ago.
11:05 a.m. – Officers find the shooter and the gun. EMS and Madison Fire Department arrive.
Upon entry to the school, police say they discovered that the suspected shooter was already dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a handgun.
EMS and the Madison Fire Department arrive at the school.
11:01 a.m. – A Madison police officer arrives and enters the school.
11:00 a.m. – The first law enforcement officer arrives (a deputy with the Dane County Sheriff's Office).
10:57 a.m. — A second-grade teacher called 911 to report the shooting
A second-grade teacher called 911 to report the shooting, which police later said occurred inside a classroom during study hall, where students of different grades were present.
Officers were dispatched to Abundant Life Christian School immediately.
This story will be updated on air and online.
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