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Source: Kory Hartman | Civic Media
Dec 18, 2024, 8:16 PM CST
The two people killed in the fatal shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison earlier this week were identified on Wednesday night.
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the two as student Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, of Madison, and teacher Michelle E. West, 42, of DeForest.
West and Vergara were both pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting and autopsies were completed in the past two days. The Medical Examiner’s Office reported that preliminary results of the examinations confirm both died as a result of “homicidal firearm related trauma.”
According to the Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Vergara was a freshman at the school.
Besides the two deaths, six others were wounded in the shooting. Police said the suspect shot eight people before authorities got to the school, located in the 4900 block of East Buckeye Road, on the city’s east side shortly before 11 a.m.
Of those who were injured, two people are in the hospital fighting for their lives. Four others — three students and a teacher — are expected to recover. Two of the injured victims were sent home from the hospital on Monday night.
The shooter, identified as Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, 15, also died in the incident. Rupnow was found at the scene and died at a local hospital from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
In terms of the investigation of Rupnow’s death, the Medical Examiner’s Office said “additional testing is underway at this time.”
In a news release issued Wednesday night, officials said the Medical Examiner’s Office and the Madison police are continuing to investigate the three deaths.
The funeral home noted that Vergara’s funeral will be held on Saturday at City Church in Madison.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: California Man Detained For Alleged Connection
Authorities have detained a 20-year-old California man “on suspicion of coordinating a mass shooting at a government building in conjunction with the Madison school shooter,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday night.
The newspaper’s story cites court records obtained by a local CBS TV affiliate in California.
Private School Has More Than 400 Students
The Abundant Life Christian School was founded in 1978, according to the school’s website. Officials said the school offers classes for kindergarten through 12th grade and currently has more than 400 students.
Stay tuned to Civic Media for continuing coverage.
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