Natalie Rupnow: What To Know About 15-Year-Old WI School Shooter

MADISON, WI — A 15-year-old student opened fire in a study hall at a small Christian school Monday in Madison, Wisconsin, killing a teacher and a second grader just days before the start of Christmas break.

The shooter, identified by police as Natalie Rupnow, who also went by Samantha, wounded six others during Monday's attack at Abundant Life Christian School before turning the gun on herself.

Two students remain in critical condition, while a teacher and three other students were hospitalized with less serious injuries; two have since been released.

Rupnow was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived and died while being transported to a local hospital.

Officers did not fire their weapons while clearing the school.

"Today is a sad, sad day," Police Chief Shon Barnes said at a news conference. "Yet another police chief is doing a press conference to speak about violence in our community, specifically in one of the places that’s most sacred to me as someone who loves education and to someone who has children that are in schools."

"Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened," Barnes added.

This incident is notable because school shootings committed by females are rare; only about 3 percent of U.S. mass shootings are carried out by women, according to Reuters.

Police have spoken with the shooter’s father and other family members, who are cooperating with the investigation. Investigators have searched Rupnow's home.

"He lost someone as well," Barnes said of the shooter's father. "And so we’re not going to rush the information. We’ll take our time and make sure we do our due diligence."

Rupnow used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told AP. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and it is not yet known whether the victims were specifically targeted.

"I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening," Barnes said.

A 911 call reporting an active shooter came in just before 11 a.m. Monday, as first responders were training only 3 miles away. They rushed to the scene, arriving within three minutes of the call.

Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.

"As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters," Highman said. "There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids."

Parents and guardians were guided to the nearby Dean Clinic for student reunification.

In a statement, President Joe Biden addressed the tragedy, urging Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law, and additional gun restrictions.

"We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart," Biden said. The President spoke with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, offering his full support.

Evers said it's "unthinkable" that a child or teacher would go to school and never return home.

In its first statement since the shooting, Abundant Life shared: "Prayers Requested! Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are in the midst of following up. We will share information as we are able. Please pray for our Challenger Family."

Established in 1978 as a community-focused Christian school, Abundant Life provides education from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is nondenominational.

Serving approximately 200 families from over 56 churches across the greater Dane County area, the school fosters a vibrant and diverse faith-based community, according to its website.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.