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Source: Kory Hartman | Civic Media
Dec 17, 2024, 5:00 AM CST
Madison police said on Tuesday that they’ve shifted their focus to unraveling what happened and why after the private school shooting on the city’s east side in which three were killed — including the shooter — and six were injured.
Police said the suspect shot eight people before authorities got to the Abundant Life Christian School, located in the 4900 block of East Buckeye Road, on Monday morning.
As of right now, a teacher and a teenaged student were killed in the gunfire. Of those who were injured, two people are in the hospital fighting for their lives. As of Monday night, they were listed in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Four others — three students and a teacher — are expected to be OK. Two of the injured victims were sent home from the hospital.
In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, police corrected an error from the previous day. They said it was a second-grade teacher who called 911 to summon authorities. Previously, authorities said it was a second-grade student who made the call.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said he was sorry for the mistake and took responsibility for the error.
“Yesterday after looking at the computer-aided dispatch system, it seems as if a call came from a second-grader. It actually read the call came from a second-grade teacher. It was a mistake. That’s my responsibility. I apologize and I clarify that today,” he said.
While rumors are running rampant on social media on what prompted the shooting, authorities said they are working on establishing the motive now.
“Identifying a motive is our top priority. But at this time, it appears that the motive was a combination of factors. Again, we cannot share that information at this time because we do not want to jeopardize the information and those who are currently cooperating with us,” Barnes said.
Police said they are encouraging anyone who might have any information to submit it through Crimestoppers phone number, website or app.
Community Still Reeling After Madison School Shooting
The Madison community is still reeling from Monday’s school shooting on the city’s east side, in which three people were killed and at least six others were injured. The shooter was among those who were killed.
Madison Police Chief Shon F. Barnes identified the shooter as Natalie Rupnow, 15, who went by the name “Samantha.” Rupnow was found at the scene and died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
The Abundant Life Christian School was founded in 1978, according to the school’s website. Officials said the school offers classes for kindergarten through 12th grade and currently has more than 400 students.
Nearby, Area Schools Had Been Put In Lockdown After Shooting
Madison public schools held classes as normal on Tuesday.
Nine schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District and some in nearby Monona Grove, had been put on a secure hold Monday.
Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Joe Gothard said in a statement Monday afternoon that those Madison public schools were placed in a “Secure,” a lockdown-type setting after the shooting as a precaution, but that condition was lifted at 1:15 p.m.
District officials said during a Secure, “all students and staff are brought inside the building, and all exterior doors are locked. Classes, lunch, etc., go on as usual inside, but no one can enter or exit the building.”
Gothard said classes would continue on Tuesday for Madison public schools as scheduled and that “comprehensive resources” will be available to support students, families and staff.
Local Officials Talk Impact Of Shooting
Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said the shooting has deep impact in the greater Madison area.
“As a mom who received a text from her son at a high school in the city of Madison wondering if he was safe, I can tell you this hits you in the gut,” she said. “Every one of us is affected by this unimaginable and unacceptable violence that has hit our community.”
Barnes said they will investigate what happened and support those affected by the shooting.
“My heart is heavy for my community. My heart is heavy for Madison. We have to come together as a community and figure out what happened here. And make sure that it doesn’t happen at any other place that should be a refuge for students in our community,” he said.
The Crime Response unit from the Dane County District Attorney’s office has been mobilized. The team includes social workers and their goal is to support survivors and family members. There are also specially-trained officers at the police department to check in on their peers, who experienced trauma in their response.
Governor Orders Flags Flown At Half-Staff To Honor Victims
Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order Tuesday that the flags should be flown at half-staff beginning on Monday in honor of the victims.
“There are no words to describe the devastation and heartbreak we feel today after the school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison this morning,” Evers said in a statement on Monday. “Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin in praying for the families and loved ones of those whose lives were so senselessly taken and for the educators, staff, and the entire Abundant Life school community as they grapple with the grief, trauma, and loss of this gut-wrenching tragedy. We are also praying and hoping all those injured survive and recover.”
Candlelight Vigil Planned Tuesday At State Capitol
Officials with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County said that they were organizing a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night at the state Capitol. The event will begin at 6 p.m.
“This gathering invites the community to come together in solidarity, reflect, and begin the journey of healing,” organizers said in the announcement of the vigil.
Among those scheduled to attend are Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway; Madison School Superintended Joe Gothard; Michael Johnson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County; Bishop Godfrey Stubbs, End Times Ministries International; Renee Moe, the United Way CEO; and Anthony Cooper, CEO of Focused Interruptions.
Police were asking the public to stay away from the school grounds on Monday night as officers continue to investigate the scene.
Resources Available For Wisconsin Schools In Shooting’s Aftermath
Local officials said they’re working to ensure area schools are safe going forward.
Trish Kilpin, director of the Wisconsin Office of School Safety, said they’ve gotten more tips about school threats since the Madison shooting.
“It is true that in light of school shootings, we also see an uptick, a contagion effect, of other school threats,” she said. “We have seen an increase in planned school attack tips. Often after an incident such as what happened in Madison, people start to think about ‘I should have reported this,’ ‘I have knowledge that someone could be planning a school attack,’ and they need to have a place to report that.”
The Speak Up, Speak Out tipline has received more than 350 tips since its inception in 2020. Officials said the public can submit a tip online or call their hotline. They advise people to never brush off a potential threat.
In addition, the Office of School Safety has resources available to Wisconsin schools, including guidance on what to do if parents or staff are worried about a student, how to talk to children about making false threats and how to report bullying.
Before the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, there had been a threat to the Green Bay Area School District. Authorities said they believe the threat wasn’t credible, but they still had extra police at their schools on Monday.
Barnes said that authorities take any threats seriously and will investigate any reports.
“Anyone who makes a call or threat to a school, we will investigate that. And if you’re found to be the person to have made that call, you will be arrested,” he said.
Vice President Joins Politicians’ Voices Pledging Support
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on Tuesday expressing support for the victims of the school shooting.
“Of course, our nation mourns for those who were killed, and we pray for the recovery of those who were injured and for the entire community,” Harris said. “As we hold our loved ones close this holiday season, we as a nation must renew our commitment to end the horror of gun violence, both mass shootings and everyday gun violence that touches so many communities in our nation.”
Gov. Tony Evers, U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, state State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Madison School Superintended Joe Gothard were among those Wisconsin political leaders who expressed their sympathies and offered words of support on Monday.
Stay tuned to Civic Media for continuing coverage.
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