A GIRL who was shot lifeless after her feminine classmate opened fireplace at their faculty has been recognized along with her household paying tribute.
Natalie Rupnow, 15, gunned down college students and lecturers on the Considerable Life Christian faculty in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday.
A pupil and a trainer have been killed within the rampage earlier than Rupnow, 15, turned the gun on herself.
She was pronounced lifeless in an ambulance on the best way to the hospital, cops stated.
Six further folks have been injured as chaos unfolded inside a classroom containing mixed-grade college students simply days earlier than Christmas.
Now the scholar who was killed has been recognized as Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, of Madison, in an obituary launched Wednesday.
She was a freshman on the faculty and an avid reader, beloved artwork, singing and enjoying keyboard within the household worship band, in accordance with the obituary.
“She shared a particular bond along with her beloved pets, Ginger (cat) and Coco (canine),” the tribute provides.
The funeral can be held on Sunday in Madison with the household asking for donations to be made to the varsity in lieu of flowers.
The Related Press’ makes an attempt to succeed in the lady’s household by cellphone and electronic mail on Wednesday night have been unsuccessful.
Town’s police chief stated in an interview on Wednesday the shooter had two handguns along with her however used just one within the assault.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes stated: “We could by no means know what she was considering that day, however properly do our greatest to attempt to add or give as a lot data to our public as doable.”
The Dane County medical expert Wednesday night recognized the trainer who was killed as 42-year-old Michelle E. West.
Barnes launched the identify of the shooter, Natalie Samantha Rupnow, hours after the capturing on Monday.
Barnes stated the medical expert would launch the names of these killed, however the state’s crime victims privateness legislation would bar releasing the names of these injured.
Police, with the help of the FBI, have been scouring on-line information and different assets and talking along with her dad and mom and classmates in an try to find out a motive for the capturing, Barnes stated.
Police do not know if anybody was focused within the assault or if the assault had been deliberate prematurely, the chief stated.
“I have no idea if if she deliberate it that day or if she deliberate it every week prior,” Barnes stated.
“To me, bringing a gun to high school to harm folks is planning. And so we dont know what the premeditation is.”
Whereas Rupnow had two handguns, Barnes stated he doesn’t understand how she obtained them and he declined to say who bought them, citing the continuing investigation.
Considerable Life Christian College capturing timeline
On December 16, a pupil at Considerable Life Christian College opened fireplace on the personal Ok-12 faculty in Madison, Wisconsin. Beneath is a timeline of the occasions that unfolded:
10:57 am – A second-grade pupil calls 911 to report the capturing
11:00 am – Cops arrive on the scene and instantly enter the varsity
11:05 am – Cops discover the shooter down and get well the gun
11:14 am – College is began to be cleared
11:20 am – Public security alert is shipped out to close by telephones
11:38 pm – Madison Police Division confirms a number of individuals are injured
12:15 pm – Cops maintain a press convention and ensure three individuals are lifeless, together with the shooter, and at the very least six others injured
12:38 pm – Considerable Life Christian College requests prayers on Fb
2:30 pm – At a second press convention, cops affirm the shooter was a teen who attended the varsity
8:30 pm – Cops affirm shooter was pupil Natalie Rupnow, 15, who died whereas being transported to the hospital
No selections have been made about whether or not Rupnow’s dad and mom may be charged in relation to the capturing, however they’ve been cooperating, Barnes stated.
On-line court docket information present no felony instances towards her father, Jeffrey Rupnow, or her mom, Mellissa Rupnow.
They’re divorced and shared custody of their daughter, however she primarily lived along with her father, in accordance with court docket paperwork.
Divorce information point out that Natalie was in remedy in 2022, however do not say why.
Pressure over police not releasing data had spilled over right into a information convention on Tuesday, the place Barnes left with out taking questions.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway grew more and more terse in her responses as reporters requested questions she couldn’t reply.
“It’s completely none of yalls enterprise who was harmed on this incident,” Rhodes-Conway stated.
“Please, have some human decency and respect for the individuals who misplaced family members or have been injured themselves or whose youngsters have been injured. Simply have some human decency, of us.
“Go away them alone. Allow them to grieve. Allow them to get well. Allow them to heal.
“Dont feed off their ache. Nicely share what we are able to once we can and never earlier than that.”
Barnes on Wednesday defended the police division’s dealing with of details about the capturing as a result of it has moved from a disaster response to the investigation part.
“We have been making an attempt to be as clear as doable to provide as a lot data as we are able to in the course of the important part of this incident,” Barnes stated.
“Now we’re within the investigative part. And so the knowledge is probably not as forthcoming.”
What to find out about Considerable Life Christian College capturing
Three individuals are lifeless after a capturing at Considerable Life Christian College in Madison, Wisconsin, on December 16.
Cops say pupil Natalie Rupnow, 15, stormed campus with a 9mm pistol and killed a trainer and pupil earlier than turning the gun on herself.
Six others, believed to be all college students, have been wounded and two have been in important situation. They’ve since been stabilized.
A complete of 420 college students are enrolled on the Ok-12 Christian faculty.
It serves about 200 households from 56 completely different church buildings on its 28-acre campus, in accordance with the academy’s web site.
The tragedy unfolded in the previous few days earlier than college students have been launched for Christmas break.