15-year-old Natalie Rupnow has been identified as the shooter who opened fire during a study hall in a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, killing a student and a teacher, local authorities confirmed on Monday. Rupnow also died, probably by suicide, according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, as officers did not fire their weapons.
As the community reels from the shooting, more details are emerging about Rupnow, who also went by Samantha. Among them is the existence of an alleged manifesto in which the author claims to have "grown to hate people, and society."
Asked about the document, police said it's "aware" of it but has not been able to confirm its authenticity or it being linked to Rupnow. "We're certainly aware that it's been posted and the person who posted it, alleged to have a connection with the victim," Barnes said.
"We'll also be looking through her effects – if she had a computer or cell phone – to see if there are any transmissions between her and someone else." Barnes added that authorities are working with the FBI to investigate the writings. SWAT teams raided her family home on Monday night and conducted a search inside, according to local press.
Titled "War Against Humanity," the author of the manifesto claims that no one is aware of the plans and that they got the weapons "by lies and manipulation, and my fathers stupidity." It adds that the author planned on committed suicide time ago but considered conducting a shooting is "better for evolution rather than just one stupid boring suicide."
Several pages long, it includes hateful comments from the author, including growing to "hate people, and society," and calling their parents "scum." "Humanity is filth and I don't like flith nor want to live in it nor should anyone else and I know it follows me," it adds.
Police confirmed Rupnow used a handgun to carry out the shooting. As of Monday night, two other students remained in critical condition and four more hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Barnes said the suspect's family has been cooperating with the investigation.
"I think we can all agree that enough is enough, and we have to come together to do everything we can to support our students to prevent press conferences like these from happening again and again and again," said Barnes.
Bethany Hyman, a mother whose children attend ALCS told NBC News she "just bolted out" when she learned there was an active shooter on campus.
"Your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters," she said in a separate interview with USA TODAY.
There have been over 200 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, with 56 deaths and 147 injuries so far in 2024.
Originally published on Latin Times
