A teenage student, identified by police as 15-year-old Natalie Lynn Rupnow, opened fire at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, December 16, 2024, killing a teacher and another teenage student. The shooting occurred Monday morning in the final week of school before winter break.
The shooter, who also went by “Samantha” or "Sam" online, was pronounced dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after police arrived at the scene. In a press conference on Monday, Madison Police Department Chief Shon Barnes said six others were injured, including two in critical condition.
While the motive remains unclear, Madison police revealed they are looking into online posts of the teenage student and a possible manifesto. According to Newsweek, the 15-year-old Abundant Life Christian School shooter’s social media provided an insight into the teen’s life before the shooting.
What we know about Abundant Life Christian school shooter Natalie Rupnow's social media posts
Abundant Life Christian school shooter Natalie Rupnow went by the username "crossixir” online. She also had an X account with the username @Postalbrained, which has since been locked. The bio on the X account read:
“God forbid they know I’m human.”
According to multiple reports and posts online, Natalie Rupnow's social media posts allegedly revealed an obsession with school shooters, particularly the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.
Rupnow was also pictured with a KMFDM rock band T-shirt. The German rock band was reportedly also referenced by one of the Columbine shooters, Eric Harris, who along with Dylan Klebold, drove to Columbine High School in Colorado in April 1999 and murdered 12 students and one teacher, injuring 21 others.
According to journalist Christina from Aguayo News, Rupnow's last post on her X account is of an "okay" hand symbol in the school's bathroom minutes before the shooting.
Police said an alleged Natalie Rupnow manifesto has been circulating on social media, but noted they have not been able to verify it's veracity. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said:
"A document about this shooting is circulating on social media, but we have not verified its authenticity. We're certainly aware that it's been posted and the person who posted it, alleged to have a connection with the victim."
In a post on X, a social media user shared the alleged manifesto claiming Natalie Rupnow was struggling with the divorce of her parents and was also allegedly bullied at school.
Abundant Life Christian school shooter Natalie Rupnow's father's last post allegedly showed daughter at shooting range
According to Newsweek, Natalie Rupnow’s parents, Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow, are cooperating with the police investigation in the wake of the Abundant Life Christian school shooting. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said:
"The parents are fully cooperating, we have no reason to believe that they have committed a crime at this time."
Newsweek reported Jeff Rupnow’s last Facebook post showed his daughter at a North Bristol Sportsman's Club (NBSC), a Wisconsin-based shooting range. Shooting range. In the comments section, he added:
"We joined NBSC this spring and we have been loving every second of it!"
In one of the post’s Jeff Rupnow reportedly celebrated the birth of his daughter in 2009.
In a post on X, President Joe Biden called for gun control measures amid endemic school shootings.
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"Today, families in Madison, Wisconsin are grieving the loss of those who were killed and wounded at Abundant Life Christian School. It's shocking and unconscionable. We need Congress to act. Now."
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, in 2024, there were more than 200 school shootings.
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