Madison school shooting: Victims in 'good condition,' Culver's shows support
MADISON, Wis. - Two victims of the Madison school shooting are now in "good condition," UW Health said on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The update comes nearly a month after the shooter, who police identified as 15-year-old student Natalie Rupnow, opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School on Monday, Dec. 16.
What they're saying:
UW Health provided the following statement:
The two patients receiving care at American Family Children’s Hospital for injuries sustained in the Abundant Life Christian School shooting are improving and are now considered to be in good condition. At this time, we do not plan to provide additional condition updates on these patients out of respect for their request for privacy.
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The victims
What we know:
The medical examiner's office identified 14-year-old student Rubi Vergara and 42-year-old ALCS staff member Erin West. Rupnow died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Barbara Wiers, the school’s director of elementary and communications, said Vergara had attended the school since kindergarten. West worked as a substitute teacher for three years before accepting a position as the school's substitute coordinator and an in-building substitute teacher.
The shooting wounded four other people. Two were released from the hospital shortly after the shooting. The other two were considered to be in critical condition until a previous update from UW Health on Dec. 31.
Natalie Rupnow
The backstory:
Police said student Natalie "Samantha" Rupnow shot herself at the school and died at a Madison hospital. Police have said her motivation for the attack remains a key part of their investigation.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said the FBI is involved and investigating a possible link between Rupnow and a man in California, who investigators said was planning his own attack on an unspecified government building.
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It was Rupnow’s first semester at ALCS, Wiers told The Associated Press. The school was working with her family on attendance, but teachers had no significant concerns, she said.
Community effort
What you can do:
Dozens of Wisconsin Culver’s restaurants contributed to the Abundant Life Christian School Emergency and Recovery Fund on Monday, Jan. 6,
Participating restaurants are donating a collective $165,000 to benefit families impacted by the shooting.
"We’re so thankful to every guest who joined us to support their neighbors at Abundant Life Christian School and to each team member who helped serve them," said Culver’s co-founder Craig Culver. "We're passionate about making delicious food, but really, we're in the people business—so when our communities need a place to gather to rally around their neighbors in need, we're extremely proud to welcome them."
The funds were donated directly from participating restaurants to the United Way of Dane County’s Abundant Life Christian School Emergency and Recovery Fund.
If you wish to support the families, you can donate through a site set up by the United Way of Dane County. You can visit the organization's website or text Help4ALCS to 40403.
The Source: Information in this report is from UW Health, Culver's and prior FOX6 News coverage.