The Monday morning shooting at Abundant Life Christian School unfolded inside a classroom during a study hall “full of students from multiple grade levels,” police said.
Six people were hurt. Two students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries while three students and a teacher suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are investigating the online footprint of the 15-year-old girl who allegedly opened fire with a handgun at her Madison, Wisconsin, Christian school, killing a teacher and another student.
The suspect, Natalie Rupnow, who went by Samantha, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
Meanwhile, numerous schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District “were targeted by false threats often known as swatting” on Tuesday, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said at a news conference.
Police are investigating, Barnes said, and he noted authorities do not believe there are any current threats.
“Making false threats is a crime, and we are working with the district attorney,” he said.
Barnes said police are still working to establish a motive for the shooting and suggested there were multiple factors.
Police are talking to students to determine if bullying was a factor, he said.
“Everyone was targeted in this incident and everyone was put in equal danger,” Barnes added.
Rupnow’s parents are cooperating with the investigation, Barnes told ABC News on Tuesday.
“They were cooperative. Despite this tragedy, they still lost a child. They still lost a member of their family,” Barnes said.
“It is certain that they have probably more questions than anyone because they knew her,” he said. “They lived with her and so we wanted to get an account from them of what kind of child she was.”
Smith said Abundant Life Christian School welcomes students who may have been bullied or had a tough time at other schools.
“We, as a school, desire to help those who are having troubles, to be able to provide a safe space for them to grow, at the same time balance across a safe space for the rest of our student body,” he said.
