Madison Private School Shooting: A Timeline of Events

On December 17, 2024By Littum

A student and teacher were shot and killed and six others were wounded when a teenage student opened fire inside a classroom at a private Christian school in Madison, according to authorities.

The incident is the second school shooting in the Madison area in seven months.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes has not identified the victims in the shooting, which took place at Abundant Life Christian School, but the suspected teenage shooter was identified by Barnes as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who went by Samantha.

Here is a timeline of events.

10:57 a.m.: Second grade calls 911 to report shooting

Barnes said a second-grader was the first person to call 911 and report a shooting inside a classroom where students from different grades were in study hall.

“Gonna let that drag on for a minute,” the chief said at a press conference Monday night as the country continues to grapple with children being subjected to horrors in their schools.

Law enforcement and emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the school.

11:00: First police officer arrives

A deputy with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office was the first officer to arrive at the scene, according to Barnes.

11:01 a.m.: Authorities enter the school

Twenty-four seconds after a deputy arrives at the school, a Madison police officer arrives and they immediately enter the school, Barnes said.

“We have training and tactics that we use,” Barnes said. “We did that today. They know exactly what happens during an active shooter. Stop the killing. Stop the dying. Stop the threat.”

11:05 a.m.: Officers say the suspect is down

Officers inside the school say the shooter is down and a gun has been recovered, Barnes said. The chief said an initial investigation shows Rupnow was already at the school and died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and that no officers fired their weapons.

Abundant Life did not have a school resource officer or metal detectors. Cameras in the building are monitored, doors remain locked and each student is “visually scanned” by staff when they arrive at the school, said Barbara Wiers, director of site and school relations for Abundant Life.

Authorities begin planning to set up a reunification center at a nearby SSM Health urgent care and clinic, and the Madison Fire Department arrives on the scene to assist victims.

11:13 a.m.: Madison police announce school shooting

The Madison Police Department releases an initial statement on its website announcing that a school shooting had occurred. Roads were blocked off along 4900 Buckeye Road. Police asked people to avoid the area.

11:14: The authorities are working to clear the building

Authorities are beginning to clear Abundant Life Christian School, according to Barnes.

The school shares a 28-acre campus with the Campus for Kids Learning Center, a program for infants through 4 years of kindergarten, and the non-denominational City Church.

11:23 a.m.: Authorities are using K-9s to clear the building

Authorities are using K-9s to help clear the building.

11:26: First victim transported to hospital

Emergency personnel are beginning to transport patients to area hospitals, Barnes said.

Of the eight people who were shot, four people were transported to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, and three were transported to University of Wisconsin hospitals, according to Madison Fire Chief Chris Carbon. One of those victims died on the way to the hospital, and one of the gunshot victims was pronounced dead at the scene, Barnes said.

Rupnow also died on the way to the hospital, Barnes said.

12.15 and 12.30: First press briefing held

Barnes and other officials will hold two separate news conferences at 12:15 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. less than two hours after the shooting to provide updates on the number of dead and wounded.

12:16 p.m.: Governor Evers announces he was briefed

Governor Tony Evers announces that he has been briefed on the shooting. “We are praying for the children, educators and the entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” he said.

12:32: School posts for social media

Abundant Life writes on social media that “we had an active shooter incident” on Monday and “we are in the middle of following up.”

3:07 p.m.: Evers released a full-length statement

Evers sent an updated statement announcing that flags across the state should be immediately lowered to half-staff to honor the victims. “There are no words to describe the devastation and heartache we feel today,” he said.

4:00 p.m.: President Biden issues a statement

President Joe Biden said the shooting was “shocking” and “unconscionable” and called for congressional action.

“From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that go unnoticed — it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence,” he said in a statement. “We cannot continue to accept it as normal. All children deserve to feel safe in their classroom. Students across our country should be learning to read and write – not having to learn to duck and cover.”

He called on Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

17.30: The police give an update

An evening news conference was held shortly after sunset, where Barnes shared that two student victims are in critical condition and suffered life-threatening injuries, and two injured students had been released from the hospital.

8:01 p.m.: The school says all students have been reunited

Abundant Life announces on social media that all students have been reunited with their parents.

8:30 p.m.: Suspected teen shooter identified

Barnes identifies Rupnow as the suspected shooter.