Wisconsin prosecutors have recently charged the father of a teenage girl who committed a school shooting last year with allowing her access to the semiautomatic pistols she used in the attack. The criminal complaint against 42-year-old Jeffrey Rupnow of Madison reveals the troubled background of his daughter, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who struggled with her parents’ divorce and expressed her anger in a written piece titled “War Against Humanity.”
According to the complaint, Natalie meticulously planned the attack, even building a cardboard model of the school and scheduling the shooting to end with her own suicide. Prosecutors filed the complaint on Wednesday, but it was not unsealed until after Jeffrey Rupnow’s arrest on Thursday. He now faces two counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under 18, causing death, and contributing to the delinquency of a child, all of which are felonies.
The tragic school shooting took place at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison on December 16, where Natalie entered a study hall and opened fire, resulting in the death of teacher Erin Michelle West and 14-year-old student Rubi Bergara, as well as injuries to six others before she took her own life. The investigation recovered 20 shell casings from the scene and two handguns, a 9 mm Glock purchased by Jeffrey Rupnow and a .22-caliber Sig Sauer given to Natalie as a Christmas present.
It was revealed that Natalie had been struggling with her parents’ divorce, with her father noting that she had expressed suicidal thoughts and engaged in self-harm. Her therapist diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from the divorce, further complicating the situation. Jeffrey Rupnow had introduced Natalie to shooting as a way to connect with her, but he expressed shock at how her interest in firearms escalated.
A search of Natalie’s room uncovered a disturbing document titled “War Against Humanity,” where she expressed admiration for school shooters and detailed her plans for the attack. Jeffrey Rupnow later regretted teaching her gun safety, acknowledging it as a grave mistake. The charges against him are the latest in a string of cases involving parents of school shooters being held accountable for their children’s actions.
In conclusion, the tragic school shooting in Madison sheds light on the complex issues surrounding access to firearms by minors and the responsibility of parents in ensuring gun safety. Natalie Rupnow’s story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked access to weapons and the importance of addressing mental health challenges in young individuals.
