Wisconsin Christian school shooting: Suspect identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow

Madison, WI. —  A shooting at a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, left a teenage student and a teacher dead and several others injured, casting the small religious community into mourning just days before the school was going to close for Christmas. 

The suspected gunman is also dead, according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes.

This marks the 83rd school shooting of 2024, surpassing 2023 for the most school shootings in a single year. 

UPDATE | Dec. 16, 2024 9:06 PM CST | 

Police identify the suspected shooter as a 15-year-old female student

Authorities have identified the suspected shooter who killed two people at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, as a 15-year-old female student.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes identified the suspected shooter as Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha. She was pronounced dead while being transported to a hospital.

UPDATE | Dec. 16, 2024 4:30 PM CST | 

The White House expressed “deep condolences” to the victims and families affected by a Madison, Wisconsin, school shooting Monday, pledging federal support for the investigation as it unfolds.

President Biden also released the following statement, asking for Congress to "act" now:

"Today, families in Madison, Wisconsin, are grieving the loss of those who were killed and wounded at Abundant Life Christian School. It’s shocking and unconscionable.

We need Congress to act. Now.

From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that don’t receive attention - it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence. We cannot continue to accept it as normal. Every child deserves to feel safe in their class room. Students across our country should be learning how to read and write – not having to learn how to duck and cover.

Jill and I are praying for all the victims today, including the teacher and teenage student who were killed and those who sustained injuries. We are grateful for the first responders who quickly arrived on the scene, and the FBI is supporting local law enforcement efforts. At my direction, my team has reached out to local officials to offer further support as needed.

My administration has taken aggressive action to combat the gun violence epidemic. We passed the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, I have taken more executive action to reduce gun violence than any other President in history, and I created the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. But more is needed. Congress must pass commonsense gun safety laws: Universal background checks. A national red flag law. A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart."

A candlelight vigil will be held at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison on Tuesday at 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET), according to a Facebook post.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway will attend the vigil, which will take place in front of the statue of civil rights icon Vel Phillips, Johnson says.

UPDATE | Dec. 16, 2024 3:30 PM CST | 

The shooter at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison was female, a law enforcement official briefed on the shooting tells CNN.

UPDATE | Dec. 16, 2024 3:15 PM CST | 

The family of the student suspected of opening fire at a Madison, Wisconsin, school on Monday is cooperating with police, police chief Shon Barnes said.

Madison, Wisconsin, Police Chief Shon Barnes said Monday that it is not known if the shooter had any prior contact with law enforcement.

“We do not know that the shooter had any prior contact with law enforcement. But I did do a check of the school. There were some calls, but they were like 911 hang-ups, things of that nature. There was nothing that suggested that the school was a place that violence would occur,” Barnes said at a news conference.

UPDATE | Dec. 16, 2024 3:05 PM CST | 

The shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, was “confined to one space” in the building, police chief Shon Barnes said.

He said that he does not know specifically whether it was a classroom or a hallway.

There’s no evidence that anyone else was injured that was not in that age group,” Barnes said, referring to the section of the school where the shooting happened.

UPDATE | Dec. 16, 2024 2:55 PM CST | 

A teacher and a student are dead after a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, police said. The suspect, who was a teenage student at the school, is also dead and at lease seven people are injured, according to authorities. 

First responders took four people to St. Mary’s Hospital and three others were taken to University of Wisconsin hospitals, Carbon said.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said “this is an incredibly sad day for our community.”

While Rhodes-Conway said there’s no danger to the community at this time, the “entire community has been impacted by this tragic incident.”

UPDATE | Dec. 16, 2024 1:41 PM CST | 

The Madison Police Department said it responded to the shooting at 10:57 a.m. Monday at Abundant Life Christian School and urged people to avoid the area around the school. 

“This is an ever-evolving situation,” Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said at a news conference. “So, there’s a lot of work that has to be done, and we’re committed to doing that work. We just ask for your patience.”

Police told CNN officers are working to clear the school, and have no one in custody.

Police said that the suspected shooter was believed to be a student at Abundant Life Christian School. The suspect was found dead inside the building, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said.

Multiple injured have been transported to hospitals, including students and a staff member who may have fatal injuries, he added.

There are currently no other threats to schools in the community, the police chief said.

The school serves approximately 390 students K-12, according to its website. 

The school planned to close for Christmas Vacation after this week.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Copyright CNN/ AP