Wisconsin School Shooter Identified as 15-Year-Old Female Student, Police Say

Generate Key Takeaways

The juvenile shooter who opened fire at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis. on Monday, killing a teacher and another student, was a 15-year-old female student, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in a press conference on Monday, Dec. 16.

The suspect was identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name "Samantha," Barnes said. The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the hospital, Barnes told reporters.

Rupnow's father is speaking with Madison police at one of their facilities, Barnes said. They are "trying to determine what he may knew [sic] or may have not known about what happened today, but again, he lost someone as well," Barnes explained, per CNN.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

The police chief are not aware of any previous interactions with the suspect. He also said it was a second grade student who called 911 to report the shooting and asked the public not to hold a vigil at the school because it is still an active crime scene.

Just before 11 a.m. on Dec. 16, police in Madison, Wis., responded to an active shooter call reported at the school, Barnes said during an earlier press conference.

Three people including the shooter died and six others were hospitalized, with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening, Barnes said.

The shooter was found dead inside the school after officers responded to the scene.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The circumstances of the shooter's death weren't immediately clear, though Barnes noted that police did not fire their weapons.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Police, however, know the suspect's identity and have executed a search warrant on the person's residence; Barnes said the family is cooperating in the investigation.

Editors Note: A previous version of this story listed the suspected shooter's age as 17 based on early reports from the Associated Press. Madison Police now say the suspect was 15.

Read the original article on People

• About Our Ads