In Madison, Wisconsin, the community reels from a horrifying school shooting committed by a 15-year-old, facilitated — unknowingly — by her father's attempts to foster a closer bond through shooting sports. Jeffrey Rupnow faces serious charges after his daughter, Natalie Rupnow, used his firearms to carry out a deadly attack at Abundant Life Christian School.
Natalie Rupnow, 15, tragically killed two of her schoolmates and injured six others using weapons provided by her father, Jeffrey, who was later arrested for his involvement, the US Sun reported.
The tragedy unfolded on December 16, leading to the death of teacher Erin Michelle West and 14-year-old student Rubi Bergara. Natalie, clad in a black T-shirt adorned with a bullseye, orchestrated the attack using a 9 mm Glock and a .22-caliber Sig Sauer pistol, and securely sneaked into the school.
Jeffrey Rupnow, in an attempt to connect with his daughter amidst her struggle with mental health issues post their family's separation, purchased the firearms and engaged in shooting activities with her. Little did he know, this activity would spur an unhealthy obsession in Natalie.
According to Natalie's mother, Melissa Rupnow, the separation deeply affected her daughter, leading her to develop severe post-traumatic stress disorder, confirmed by her therapist. This deterioration was apparent as Natalie started to self-harm, a fact her father found distressingly frequent.
"Her cutting had gotten so severe that I had to lock up all their knives," Jeffrey remarked about the extreme measures he had to take to ensure Natalie's safety. Her mental health struggle was a crucial context, overshadowing her father's intentions of bonding over shooting sports.
An exploration of Jeffrey's decision to introduce firearms into Natalie's life paints a complicated picture. "I took my daughter shooting about two years before she opened fire on the school, and she appeared to enjoy herself," he recounted, initially viewing shooting as a bonding activity.
The subsequent police investigation revealed unsettling details about the substantial planning that went into the attack. Specifically, Natalie created detailed schedules and even constructed a cardboard model of the school to orchestrate her actions meticulously.
In addition, Jeffrey Rupnow faces a charge of giving a dangerous weapon to a minor, compounded by his admission that he underestimated her fascination with firearms, which he said "snowballed out of control." Unfortunately, their shared shooting sessions contributed to her meticulous attack plan.
Moreover, this act wasn't spontaneous; Natalie described in a note how she manipulated her father to obtain the weapons, blaming his "stupidity" for her ability to access the guns. Reflecting on the incident, Jeffrey recommended, "Kids are smart and they will figure it out. Just like something trying to hack your bank account. I just want to protect other families."
In the aftermath of the attack, authorities arrested Alexander Paffendorf for plotting similar attacks with Natalie. Consequently, this arrest reminds us of the greater tragedy that authorities narrowly averted.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey, who cooperated fully with the police investigation, now faces the harsh reality of his indirect contribution to the tragedy. His prior light-hearted remarks about his daughter's potential for violence in a text message, a mere ten days before the shooting, now haunt him.
Furthermore, the unfolding events in Madison serve as a dire warning about the unintended consequences of introducing young individuals to firearms without stringent checks and an attentive understanding of their mental and emotional state. Ultimately, this story is not just about charges and legal battles, but also about clouded judgment and a father's profound regret over lost lives and his daughter's destructive path, driven by complex personal turmoil.
