Rubi Patricia Vergara student freshman and Erin Michelle West, teacher at Madison, Wisconsin private Christian school are identified as the shooting victims at the hands of teen gunman, Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow, who it is now revealed was carrying two guns.
Authorities have identified the teen student along with a teacher who were shot and killed at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin at the hands of a 15 year old teen girl who then shot herself dead.
The three fatalities include 42-year-old Erin Michelle West of Deforest, 14-year-old Rubi Patricia Vergara of Madison and 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, of Madison.
West was a staff member at the school and Vergara was a freshman student. They were both pronounced deceased at the scene, Abundant Life Christian School.
Forensic autopsies confirmed West and Vergara died from homicidal firearm-related trauma.
Vergara was remembered in her obituary as someone who loved to sing and play keyboard in the family worship band and who ‘shared a special bond with her beloved pets,’ that included a dog and car, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that cited an obituary.
Vergara was also known as an avid reader who loved art.
The obituary for the teen said she will be deeply missed by her parents and brother, as well as several other relatives that she left behind.
Erin Michelle West, 42, of Deforest, the instructor who was killed at the hands of Rupnow had been subbing in for a regular teacher who was away on vacation.
Five other students, including two hospitalized in critical condition, and one teacher were also wounded when Rupnow began firing inside a classroom during study hall.
Officials on Wednesday said Rupnow had two handguns with her but used only one in the attack.
Police don’t know if anyone was targeted in the attack or if the attack had been planned in advance as authorities try to pin down her motive.
At the time of the shooting, Rupnow, had been in therapy as a result of her troubled home, according to court records obtained by the Washington Post.
She is one of just nine female shooters to carry out a school shooting since 1999, according to the publication. A funeral service for Vergara will be held at a Madison church on Saturday, which will be livestreamed for friends and family to view, according to the funeral home handling arrangements.
