Wisconsin Shooting Likely a 'Combination of Factors'

Following the deaths of a teacher and student at Abundant Life Christian School in, Madison, Wisc., police chief Shon Barnes indicated that the motive appears to be a “combination of factors” for a 15-year-old female student’s attack on a study hall.

The shooter, Natalie Rupnow, 15, turned her weapon on herself, ending her life without explanation, although police are said to be reviewing writings penned by the teenager. The shooter died enroute to the hospital. This could shed light on her actions, police said.

The violence erupted at the school shortly before 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, when a second-grade teacher called 911 to report gunshots at the non-denominational school campus. First responders arrived three minutes after the first call for help. They had been involved in a training exercise three miles from the school.

Identification of the deceased is pending as law enforcement notifies family. In the initial stages of the investigation, police believe a 9mm pistol was used in the shooting. Both the shooter and the weapon of choice are a departure of what has happened most of the time there is a campus shooting. The identities of the six injured students also are being withheld currently. Two of the injured students have been released from the hospital. Two remain in critical condition.

Madison Metropolitan School District superintendent Joe Gothard said it was not enough that the district work on safety, but that those affiliated with the school need to connect every day.

“We need to make a commitment that we know we’re there for one another, hopefully to avoid preventable tragedies like yesterday,” Gothard said.

Dozens of school shootings have been recorded in recent years, especially deadly outcomes at Newtown, CT; Parkland, FL; and Uvalde, TX. According to David Riedman, founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database, females involved in campus shootings are extremely rare while males in their teens and early twenties carry out most of the shootings.

Authorities have spoken with family members, all of whom have been cooperative.

This story will be updated throughout the day as latest information is received. It is unclear if school will continue this week, just days before the Christmas break.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Next-Gen AI for Smart Cities

    The future of smart city technology is not being shaped in Silicon Valley — it is taking root in Dubuque, Iowa. With a population of about 60,000, this mid-sized city has become a live testbed for AI-driven traffic management thanks to a unique public-private collaboration led by Milestone Systems. Project Hafnia demonstrates how cities can transform urban mobility and safety through Responsible Technology—without costly infrastructure overhauls. Read Now

  • The Progress of Biometrics

  • Bringing it Together

    Public safety communications have long been used to help first responders save lives and to help keep first responders safe, improve response time, and enhance interagency coordination. These communication solutions may include mobile (5G), radio telecommunication and mass notification systems. Read Now

  • Exploring the Future of Video

    AI innovation is rapidly transforming video security. Edge-based AI centered on object detection excels at detecting people and vehicles to alert to threats like brandished guns or perimeter breaches. However, the onus is on the user to gather more details to fully understand the situation. Read Now

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.