In Madison, Wisconsin, a second-grade teacher from Abundant Life Christian School made a distress call to 911 at 10:57 a.m. concerning an active shooter in a study hall classroom at the school.
The incident involved 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow who fired a 9mm handgun in the study hall. Rupnow, a student at the school, tragically took her own life before law enforcement could intervene. Thankfully, no one else was harmed during the event.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes emphasized the urgency in determining the motive behind the attack. While a manifesto was reportedly discovered, its validity has not been confirmed by authorities at this point in the investigation.
Police said Rupnow had been texting with a 20-year-old Carlsbad, California, man who was allegedly planning his own mass attack. After discovering the messages, authorities interviewed Alexander Paffendorf, who admitted to the FBI that he told Rupnow he planned to arm himself with explosives and a gun and target a government building. No specific building was named.
A California judge issued a restraining order under the state’s gun red flag law, requiring Paffendorf to surrender his firearms and ammunition to police within 48 hours. Neighbors reported seeing police remove a large “black gun box” from his home.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guests
Katherine Schweit – Creator of the FBI’s Active Shooter Program, Former Chicago prosecutor and career FBI special agent; authored “Stop the Killing; How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis” and “How to Talk About Guns to Anyone”; website:
Bria Jones – Reporter, Fox6 News – Milwaukee; X: @BriaJonesTV Facebook: Bria Jones TV
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo:Emergency vehicles are parked outside of the SSM Health clinic where parents are being reunified with children after a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)]
