Madison school shooting, motive investigation ongoing

MADISON, Wis. - Madison police are still investigating the motive behind Monday's school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School. Answering the question – "Why?" – is their top priority.

Motive investigation: What we know

Police previously identified the suspect shooter as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who went by Samantha – a student at Abundant Life Christian School.

The shooting left three people, including Rupnow, dead. Six others were wounded. Two victims are still fighting for their lives, while another two were released from the hospital.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes on Tuesday said the motive appears to be a "combination of factors," but he would not specify what those factors were.

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Barnes indicated there always signs of a school shooting before it occurs. His investigators are now going through the shooter's social media accounts – hoping to find something that stands out. They are also aware of a reported "manifesto" circulating on social media; police have not verified its authenticity.

The chief reiterated that anyone who may have known the shooter or knew what she was feeling or going through at that time, you are invited to direct those inquiries to Madison area Crimestoppers. That number is 608-266-6014.

Natalie Rupnow: What we know

FOX6 Investigators went to the neighborhood where law enforcement blew the front door off a home while executing a search warrant. Neighbors told FOX6 that Runpow lived in that home with her father for years.

The 15-year-old was the only child of divorced parents, Jeffrey and Melissa Rupnow. Court records show her parents have been married and divorced twice since 2014. They maintained joint legal custody of Natalie, but in 2022, her father was given primary placement.

Records show Natalie Runpow was seeing a therapist, though the reason was not specified. 

"Well, I haven’t seen her a lot close up in the last year, but she was always nice. She was always talkative, and I always thought she was a great little kid," said Art Zogbaum, a neighbor. "Shocked the living hell out of me."

According to court records, Natalie Rupnow previously attended public school in the Madison Metropolitan School District at Gompers Elementary and Black Hawk Middle School. It is not clear when she moved to the private Christian school, but the neighbor FOX6 talked to said her father moved her there because he thought it would be a better place for her.

Vigil for victims

Hundreds gathered for a vigil at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Tuesday night to honor the lives lost. 

"Everything was normal until that happened. Like we were all just in class like usual – then we heard it," said Naomi Allen, a 10th-grade student. "There was only one room between my classroom and the room the shooting took place in, so we heard the gunshots pretty clearly. I think some of us might have been able to hear voices or, at least, I couldn't process them."

"It was weird, it was surreal," said Jay Allen, her parent. "It was a text that no parent ever wants to see on their phone. It was terrifying. I got the text, I didn't have any details on what was going on, she just said she was safe."

Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County hosted the vigil. It ended in prayer and song.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Follow the latest from FOX6 News on the Madison school shooting

How you can help

If you wish to support the families, the request is that that come in the form of financial support through a site set up by the United Way of Dane County. You can visit UnitedWayDaneCounty.org or you can text Help4ALCS to 40403.