A 14-year-old girl and a teacher were identified as victims of a school shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, earlier this week. Rubi Vergara, 14, and teacher Erin West, 42, were killed during the attack on Monday, according to the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Two other students remain in critical condition, while four others suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The shooter, Natalie Rupnow, 15, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities are investigating her motives, which Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said appear to involve “a combination of factors.”
Female school shooters are rare, accounting for only 4% of such incidents since 1966, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. Police are reviewing Rupnow’s online activity, interviewing acquaintances, and analyzing a manifesto she reportedly wrote. They are also tracing the handgun used in the attack, though it’s unclear how Rupnow accessed it.
Rupnow’s father, Jeff, had shared a photo in August showing her trap-shooting at a local gun club, where they were members. While some parents of school shooters have faced charges, Barnes stated that no charges are currently warranted in this case.
Court records reveal Rupnow’s challenging home life, including her parents’ tumultuous relationship, marked by three divorces and custody changes. Her Facebook profile featured a shirt from the German band KMFDM, whose music was controversially linked to the Columbine shooting in 1999.
This year alone, the U.S. has experienced 322 school shootings, sparking ongoing debates over gun control. Despite the rising violence, efforts to strengthen firearm laws have stalled in Congress, with Republicans citing constitutional concerns.
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