Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin, school shooting suspect was in contact with man accused of plotting his own attack: report
The 15-year-old girl who police say killed a teacher and teen student in a shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday was in contact with a man in California whom authorities say was plotting a mass shooting with her, according to a report.
The man, according to a restraining order obtained by the Associated Press, told FBI agents that he had been messaging Wisconsin shooter Natalie Rupnow about attacking a government building with a gun and explosives. The order doesn’t say what building he had targeted or when he planned to launch his attack. It also doesn’t detail his interactions with Rupnow.
The order was issued by a California judge on Tuesday against a 20-year-old Carlsbad man under the state’s gun red flag law. The order requires the man to turn his guns and ammunition to police within 48 hours unless an officer asks for them sooner because he poses an immediate danger to himself and others.
MEDICAL EXAMINER IDENTIFIES VICTIMS KILLED IN WISCONSIN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SHOOTING
Rupnow opened fire inside a study hall inside Abundant Life Christian School just before 11 a.m., according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes. He said responding officers found Rupnow with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She died on the way to a hospital.
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s report identified Rupnow’s deceased victims as 14-year-old student Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin M. West.
The report stated that West, of Deforest, and Vergara, of Madison, were both pronounced dead at the scene and that preliminary results of the examinations confirm that both died as a result of “homicidal firearm related trauma.”
Six others were injured in the shooting, including two students who are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
According to an obituary, Vergara was a freshman at Abundant Life Christian School and was described as being “an avid reader, lover of art, and singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band.”
Vergara’s aunt told Fox News Digital that it has been a “very hard week” for their family, and they are trying to get through her niece’s funeral, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday in Madison.
SCHOOL SHOOTER’S MOM JENNIFER CRUMBLEY HAD ‘TAINTED’ TRIAL, ATTORNEYS SAY IN REQUEST TO TOSS CONVICTION
The Madison Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that two guns were recovered from the school following the shooting. However, only one gun was allegedly used by Rupnow.
During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Barnes said “identifying a motive is our top priority.” He said the motive appears to be a combination of factors, but he did not elaborate any further.
“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened,” Barnes said. “We may never know what she was thinking that day, but we’ll do our best to try to add or give as much information to our public as possible.”
While Rupnow had two handguns, Barnes said he does not know how she obtained them and he declined to say who purchased them, citing the ongoing investigation.
No decisions have been made about whether Rupnow’s parents might be charged in relation to the shooting.
Police were speaking with Rupnow’s father and other family members, who were cooperating, and searching Rupnow’s home, Barnes said. He declined to offer additional details about the shooter, partly out of respect for the family.
Rebekah Smith, whose 17-year-old daughter is a student at the Abundant Life Christian School, told Fox News that she and her husband knew all the victims and their families.
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Smith said the teacher who was killed had a daughter who was in sports with the Smiths’ daughter, and they talked with the mother at the games all the time.
She added that the victim had been a long-term substitute teacher at the school and just became a full-time teacher this year.
The school’s communication director, Barbara Wiers, said in a statement Wednesday evening that West worked as a substitute teacher for three years before accepting a position as the school’s substitute coordinator and an in-building substitute teacher.
She said Vergara had attended the school since kindergarten.
Fox News’ Greg Wehnerm, Stephen Sorace and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Wisconsin
FBI links Carlsbad man to Wisconsin school shooting suspect
A 20-year-old Carlsbad man has been ordered to surrender his guns after authorities said he communicated with the teenage girl suspected of committing a fatal school shooting in Wisconsin, allegedly expressing his own plans to carry out a deadly attack against a government building.
Police and FBI agents went to the home of Alexander Paffendorf on Tuesday night to seize his guns and ammunition after a San Diego Superior Court judge approved a gun violence restraining order, according to documents obtained by NBC 7.
The restraining order said, in part: “During an FBI interview, Paffendorf admitted to the FBI agents that he told Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun and that he would target a government building.”
Paffendorf was detained, but it was not clear if he was arrested.
The Carlsbad Police Department told NBC 7 on Wednesday night that “there is no threat to the Carlsbad community at this time.”
The FBI’s San Diego office declined to comment.
On Monday, 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow allegedly fatally shot a teacher and a student and wounded six other people at Abundant Life Christian School, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Rupnow was later found dead at the scene with what were believed to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Wisconsin
Former Ohio State Wide Receiver Jayden Ballard Transferring to Wisconsin
Jayden Ballard will remain in the Big Ten for his final season of college football.
The former Ohio State wide receiver announced Wednesday that he has committed to Wisconsin, where he will play for former Ohio State defensive lineman and assistant coach Luke Fickell.
BREAKING: Ohio State transfer WR Jayden Ballard has Committed to Wisconsin, @on3sports has learned
The 63 200 WR will have 1 year of eligibility remaining
Was ranked as a Top 70 Recruit (No. 10 WR) in 21 per On3https://t.co/JLENYWX4gS pic.twitter.com/yAG7fAkcue
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 18, 2024
In four seasons with the Buckeyes, Ballard made 35 appearances and collected 11 catches for 177 yards and one touchdown. He also made an impact on special teams, returning 11 punts for 63 yards and three kickoffs for 23 yards.
This season, the Massillon, Ohio, native and No. 55 overall prospect in the 2021 class was buried on the wide receiver depth chart behind Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss.
With five-star freshman Mylan Graham and several talented pass-catchers arriving in the 2025 class, including Quincy Porter, Bodpegn Miller, De’Zie Jones and Phillip Bell, there was no guarantee Ballard would receive playing time in the final year of his collegiate career.
Ballard will look to carve out a role for himself at Wisconsin in 2025. Fickell recently replaced offensive coordinator Phil Longo with former Kansas playcaller Jeff Grimes. He also brought in former Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to lead the Badgers’ offense.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin winter storm watch Thursday into Friday; what to expect
MILWAUKEE – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for portions of southeast Wisconsin. It takes effect Thursday night and runs through Friday morning.
The watch covers Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties. Heavy snow will be possible, as much as 6 inches or more in some areas.
FOX6 Weather Extras
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX6 News app
FOX Weather app
What is the FOX Model?
FOX Weather
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
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