The first photos of Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, the 15-year-old suspect in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, have surfaced online after the incident. The shooting killed two, including a teacher and a student, and injured six others. Rupnow reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the incident.
In one of the photos from her father’s Facebook page, Rupnow, a student at the K-12 school, can be seen at a shooting range wearing a black T-shirt from the German band KMFDM, formed in 1984.
In another photo, Rupnow, wearing a black KMFDM T-shirt, poses for a mirror selfie.
The band’s name, “Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid,” which translates to “No Pity for the Majority,” is known for its aggressive blend of heavy metal, punk, and electronic music.
KMFDM became controversially linked to school shootings after the Columbine massacre in 1999. One of the shooters, Eric Harris, praised the band in his personal writings, citing their “anti-American” and “anti-authoritarian” messages as influential. Although KMFDM has repeatedly condemned violence and distanced themselves from such tragedies, their music and imagery continue to be a focal point in discussions about school shootings.
Another photo shows Rupnow smiling and posing with two dogs.
Wisconsin school shooting
A shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin on Monday resulted in three deaths, including the suspected shooter, and left six others injured. The suspect, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, also known as Samantha, was a student at the school. Rupnow is believed to have opened fire inside a classroom at the K-12 school, which serves around 400 students.
The attack took place around 10:30 am (1700 GMT). Officials said that Rupnow arrived at school on time and pulled out a handgun about three hours into the school day. A second-grade student, typically around 7 or 8 years old, called 911 to report the shooting, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes shared at a press conference. “Let that soak in for a minute,” he said.
According to Barnes, Rupnow died from what is suspected to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound while being transported to a local hospital. Investigators are working to trace the origin of the gun. Among the injured, two students are in critical condition, while three other students and one teacher were also hurt, with two students already discharged from the hospital.
‘Combination of factors’ behind shooting motivation
Madison Police chief Shon Barnes has said that a “combination of factors” could have led to the attack, and investigators are speaking with Rupnow’s classmates “to understand whether bullying was one of those multiple factors.”
In the aftermath, a document titled “War Against Humanity,” allegedly written by Rupnow, has emerged. This manifesto, along with her social media posts and personal writings, provides insight into her motivations, mental state, and the warning signs that were missed before the tragedy.
“We are working to authenticate the document that you see online that some are referring to as a manifesto,” Barnes said, as quoted by USA Today, urging the public not to share it until its authenticity is confirmed. He also called on anyone with knowledge of Rupnow’s mental state before the shooting to contact the police.
Authorities are also looking into how Rupnow acquired the handgun used in the shooting and are collaborating with the ATF to trace the weapon. Barnes mentioned that they are also investigating the possibility of parental negligence. “We also want to look at if the parents may have been negligent. And that’s a question that we’ll have to answer with our district attorney’s office,” Barnes told CNN. “But at this time, that does not appear to be the case.”
