What motivated Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow, Madison, Wisconsin school shooter? Manifesto may offer clues along with police now saying ‘bullying’ may have played a factor.
Federal and local investigators are working to determine what led to a 15 year old Wisconsin teen girl allegedly shooting up her schooland killing a fellow teen classmate and a substitute teacher at Madison’s Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 facility in the state’s capital, before taking her own life.
While police have not revealed any prior interactions surrounding Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow or any other known issues, authorities said they were exploring all avenues to uncover a motive and were actively engaging with Rupnow’s family, who are fully cooperating.
Wisconsin shooter teen had turbulent life at home, was in therapy
Victim of bullying?
Nevertheless questions continue to surround Natalie’s father, Jeff Rupnow, who had recently posted a picture of his 15 year old daughter practice target shooting at a shooting range, with the giddy dad, writing ‘kiddo.’ It remained unclear whether the parent was aware of his teen daughter’s increasing forays into alleged nihilistic views and alleged struggles with gender identity along with a fractured mental state.
Authorities had yet to substantiate the authenticity of a manifesto allegedly belonging to Rupnow in which the teen portrays nihilistic views towards what she regards as a dystopian society along with hatred for men, who she claims serve to dominate and suppress women and who should all be ‘killed.’
‘We’re certainly aware that it’s been posted and the person who posted it, alleged to have a connection with the victim,’ Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes told media.
Barnes added authorities had yet to locate the person who made and shared the post on social media. Police have since reached out to the FBI for help.
Alluding to the student gunman, an account going by the name of Kristallin, with the X handle, @Severd_Head posted, ‘In remembrance of Samantha Rupnow who was driven to suicide by the worst people this world has to offer.’
In a preceding post by Kristallin, who appeared to be in a relationship with the student shooter, the following was posted: ‘To everyone who is saying Lifestream it Do this Do that Or anything Go f*ck yourself Genuinely Samantha was one of the nicest most beautiful people in the world She was perfect in every way But no People like you just had to ruin her life Make her feel hated.’
Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow motivated by her alleged hatred for men and conflict with gender identity?
Also unclear is how the 15 year old girl was able to acquire the 9mm pistol used in Monday’s shooting.
‘How does any 15-year-old get a hold of a gun? Or anyone for that matter? We get into the philosophical questions of guns and gun safety.’ Barnes told reporters.
Police said the shooting took place in a classroom during a study hall session. A teacher, mistakenly reported by Barnes as a second-grade student, made a 911 call at 10:57 a.m. to report the shooting. The identities of the victims have not been publicly released.
Law enforcement officials are working to interview witnesses, and students are being encouraged to speak only when they feel ready, the police chief said.
‘We’re not going to interrogate students. We’re going to give them an opportunity to come in and speak to what they may have saw when they feel ready, which is why some of these questions can’t be answered,’ Barnes said.
By Monday evening, two of the six injured individuals had been discharged from SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital. Officials reported that two others are in stable condition, while two remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
The attack at Abundant Life is at least the 83rd school shooting of 2024, surpassing 2023 for the most school shootings in a single year. Of the 83 school shootings this year, 56 have been reported on K-12 campuses and 27 on university and college campuses. The deadliest school shooting of the year was in Winder, Georgia, where four victims were left dead at Apalachee High School.
