Wisconsin Campus Shooting: Teacher Killed While Protecting Students
Reports indicate that in a school shooting incident in Wisconsin this week, a substitute teacher was killed by the gunman while trying to protect the students.
According to local media Wisconsin Right Now, a parent revealed that the teacher killed in the shooting was a substitute teacher who tragically lost her life while shielding the students.
The 15-year-old student, Natalie Rupnow, opened fire on Monday at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, killing a substitute teacher and another teenager, and injuring five others before committing suicide.
A parent, Lyndsay O’Connor, whose children attend the school, told Wisconsin Right Now that the substitute teacher was conducting a study session in the study room when the gunman, Rupnow, abruptly entered and started shooting.
O’Connor’s daughter Mackynzie’s locker was next to Rupnow’s. Mackynzie told her mother that Rupnow was considered a “weirdo” who only started interacting with others a month after starting school.
Rupnow was often referred to by classmates as “Samantha or Sam” and was seen frequently consuming energy drinks. Prior to enrolling in this school, she had changed her name. She commuted by bus to school every day.
The parent noted that Rupnow had few friends and was very isolated.
Before the shooting, Rupnow had informed classmates that she needed to go to the nurse’s office, but it is unclear whether she actually went there.
Mackynzie told her mother that when the shots rang out, they were faint and almost indiscernible, but shortly after, the intercom in the classroom alerted that there was an active shooter and reiterated that “this is not a drill.”
According to later clarification from the police chief, the first 911 call during the incident was made by a second-grade teacher, not a second-grade student. Police arrived at the school within three minutes of receiving the distress call.
O’Connor mentioned that the children huddled together upon hearing the alert and were later escorted to the church for shelter. She said the students prayed there and the teachers joined them in prayer.
Mackynzie informed her mother that Rupnow had been at the school for at least an hour. They did not know if she disliked the study room or why she chose to go there.
Regarding the online dissemination of a gunman’s manifesto, authorities stated that they could not verify its authenticity but were investigating the shooter’s online activities.
O’Connor first learned about the school shooting while driving.
She mentioned that parents were brought to a basement area to wait for their children, and it was crowded like sardines in a can.
Due to poor cell phone reception in the area, the only thing parents could do was wait.
At one point, O’Connor stood up and asked, “Can we pray?” and began to pray standing on a chair.
Soon after, her son called her from an unknown number, his voice trembling. When she found out that both her son and daughter had been moved to the church and were currently safe, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She expressed gratitude for the support of the entire community, stating they came together like a family, ensuring the children’s safety and providing them with water and food promptly.