Updated Story: Wisconsin School Shooting 3 Dead, Several Injured

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Updated Story: Wisconsin School Shooting 3 Dead, Several Injured \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A teenage student opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, killing a teacher and a fellow student and injuring six others before dying from an apparent suicide. Authorities identified the shooter as a 17-year-old female student, while investigators work to determine a motive.

Wisconsin School Shooting: Updated Story Quick Looks

3 Dead: A teacher, a teenage student, and the shooter were killed in the attack.
Shooter Identified: Police identified the shooter as a 17-year-old female student, a rare occurrence in U.S. school shootings.
6 Injured: Two students remain in critical condition, while four others sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Police Response: A second-grade student called 911, and police arrived at the scene within 4 minutes.
Weapon Used: Investigators identified a 9mm handgun as the weapon in the shooting.
Motive Unknown: Police are working with the shooter’s family and searching her home to uncover possible motives.
Community Impact: Officials and parents expressed shock, frustration, and heartbreak, with calls for tighter gun laws.

Deep Look

A teenage student opened fire on Monday at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, killing a teacher and another teenage student, and wounding six others in a devastating attack during the final week before Christmas break. Police confirmed the shooter, a 17-year-old female student, died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The incident, which marks yet another addition to the growing list of U.S. school shootings, has left the Madison community shaken and mourning during what was supposed to be a time of celebration.

Details of the Shooting

At 10:57 a.m., a second-grade student placed a chilling 911 call to report an active shooter at the private Christian school. Police arrived on the scene within four minutes and quickly contained the situation. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes praised the swift response, but the tragedy had already unfolded inside the school’s study hall.

Authorities identified the shooter as Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha. Investigators believe she used a 9mm handgun to carry out the attack.

The victims include:

A teacher, whose identity has not yet been released.
A teenage student, who was also killed in the attack.
Six others who were wounded, including two students in critical condition and four with non-life-threatening injuries.

Lisa Adams, a spokesperson for SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, confirmed that two victims were discharged Monday night, while two others remain stable. The remaining injured students are being treated at a separate hospital.

Shooter’s Family and Investigation

Police Chief Barnes confirmed that detectives spoke with the shooter’s family on Monday evening and searched her home in Madison to determine a possible motive. Her father is cooperating with authorities.

“He lost someone as well,” Barnes said, emphasizing the importance of conducting a thorough investigation. “We’re not going to rush the information, we’ll take our time and certainly do our due diligence.”

While school shootings by teenage females remain rare, they are not unprecedented. According to David Riedman, founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database, males in their teens and 20s carry out the vast majority of school attacks.

Community and National Reaction

The tragedy has sparked grief and anger among parents, school officials, and national leaders:

Barbara Wiers, director of school relations at Abundant Life Christian School, praised students for their calm response:

“When they heard ‘lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real. This has obviously rocked our school community.”

President Joe Biden called the shooting “shocking and unconscionable” in a statement, urging Congress to act on gun safety laws.

“We cannot continue to accept this as normal,” Biden said. “Every child deserves to feel safe in their classroom.”

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers expressed support for the victims and gratitude toward first responders.

Parents anxiously awaited reunification with their children at a nearby medical clinic, with many describing the surreal and heartbreaking experience. Bethany Highman, a mother, described her rush to the scene after learning about the shooting.

“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute… You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”

A Growing Epidemic of Gun Violence

The shooting in Madison is the latest in a troubling pattern of school shootings across the United States. High-profile tragedies in Newtown, Uvalde, Parkland, and elsewhere have sparked national debates on gun control but have done little to inspire comprehensive legislation.

According to KFF, a health research nonprofit, firearms were the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021. Calls for universal background checks, red flag laws, and bans on assault weapons have grown louder, but national action remains elusive.

Moving Forward

School officials have not yet decided when classes at Abundant Life Christian School will resume, but they plan to gather staff early in the week and offer opportunities for students to reconnect as they process the tragedy.

“This is a community that will need time to heal,” Chief Barnes said. “These children are now the latest group of survivors of a school shooting—this time, unfortunately, in Madison, Wisconsin.”

As investigations continue, authorities remain focused on uncovering answers while supporting the families and community affected by this heartbreaking event.