A teacher and pupil were killed by school shooter Natalie Rupnow, 15, before she turned the gun on herself(Image: Getty Images)

Dad of Madison school shooter Natalie Rupnow posted chilling image before horror attack

Natalie Rupnow, 15, shot and killed a teacher and a fellow student with a 9mm handgun at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, injuring six others

17 Dec 2024, 19:23 by Christopher Bucktin · The Mirror

The father of American school shooter Natalie Rupnow posted a chilling image months before the tragedy, appearing to show his daughter at a shooting range.

The girl was seen wearing an unsettling black T-shirt similar to one worn by the Columbine school shooters. The top bore the logo of the German industrial band KMFDM, which gained infamy after the 1999 massacre that claimed 13 lives. In the August Facebook post, Jeff Rupnow shared a photo of his daughter aiming a shotgun at clay targets.

He referenced their membership at North Bristol Sportsman's Club, a local shooting range near Madison, Wisconsin. The post, which seemed innocent then, has since drawn scrutiny, given its similarities to Columbine's chilling prelude.

Natalie Rupnow's dad posted a photo of her at a shooting range

Rupnow's dad shared a picture of her with two dogs on his Facebook page

Rupnow, who also went by the name Samantha, carried out the attack on Monday at the Abundant Life Christian School, where she shot and killed a teacher and a fellow student with a 9mm handgun. Six others were injured in the rampage before the 15-year-old turned the gun on herself.

Police have yet to determine a motive but are investigating a manifesto reportedly written by Rupnow, which has been circulating online. The existence and content of the document could provide further insight into her state of mind leading up to the shooting.

The shooting unfolded with terrified students and staff scrambling for safety. First responders arrived at the scene within minutes, where they discovered the bodies of Rupnow and her two victims.

Police say they are investigating a manifesto reportedly written by Rupnow( Image: Getty Images)

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where last night several remain in critical condition. Witnesses described scenes of panic as the shooter moved through hallways, reportedly targeting specific individuals.

Following the tragedy, scrutiny turned to the August Facebook post shared by Rupnow's father, in which he proudly discussed their membership at the club. The image shows Natalie from the back holding a gun with protective ear muffs on. A user commented on Jeff's post, "Is that kiddo?" to which he responded, "Sure is!!!!! We joined NBSC this spring, and we have been loving every second of it!" The choice of a KMFDM shirt has struck an unsettling chord.

Rupnow's dad, Jeff Rupnow, shared the photo on his social media

The Columbine shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold idolised the band, incorporating its lyrics and imagery into their violent worldview. Harris's website featured KMFDM lyrics alongside disturbing references to Nazi ideology.

While the band denounced the Columbine massacre at the time, their association with one of America's most infamous school shootings has cemented them as a dark cultural reference point. The investigation into Rupnow's actions has also raised the question of parental responsibility, echoing cases such as James and Jennifer Crumbley, who were convicted after their son's involvement in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting.

Terrified students and staff scrambled for safety as gunshots rang out at the school, eyewitnesses said( Image: Getty Images)

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes addressed the possibility during a press conference. Amid the tragedy, online speculation surrounding Rupnow's gender identity has fueled controversy. Chief Barnes criticised such discussions, insisting they are irrelevant to the investigation and detract from understanding the root causes of the attack.

There have been at least 83 school shootings in the States so far this year, as of December 16. The incidents have left 38 people dead and at least 115 other victims injured.

Across America, there have been more than 488 mass shootings across the US so far in 2024, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The organisation defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are injured or killed. Their figures include shootings that happen in homes and public places.

For each of the last four years, there have been more than 600 mass shootings - almost two a day on average. The deadliest such attack, in Las Vegas in 2017, killed more than 50 people and left 500 wounded. The vast majority of mass shootings, however, leave fewer than ten people dead.