(The Center Square) – The Madison Police Department has arrested the father of the Abundant Life Christian School shooter and have charged him with contributing to the delinquency of a child and providing a dangerous weapon to someone under 18 resulting in death, all felony charges.
Jeffrey Rupnow, 42, was arrested in the early morning hours Thursday after a traffic stop and booked into the Dane County Jail. His daughter, Natalie Rupnow, was identified by police as the Abundant Life shooter.
The arrest report was sealed by the court in the morning. Madison Police Chief John Patterson said in an afternoon press conference that the shooter was able to access two guns that were owned by the shooter’s father and were sometimes located in a safe but removed the day before the shooting for cleaning.
Police were uncertain if the guns were outside of the safe or the safe was accessed by Rupnow’s daughter.
Both 42-year-old teacher Erin West and 14-year-old student Rubi Vergara were shot and killed at the school on Dec. 16 along with the shooter, who died from self-inflicted wounds. One other student remains hospitalized from the shooting.
Police determined the freshman shooter opened fire in a mixed grade study hall classroom. Two guns were found at the school but only one – a handgun – was used in the shooting, according to Madison Police.
“What happened at Abundant Life Christian School should have been impossible,” said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.
Patterson said that police recovered writings, a manifesto entitled “War against humanity,” drawings and videos from the Rupnow’s home that would have “lead any average person to the conclusion of violence, to the concern of violence rather.”
Police recovered two guns – a 9mm and 22-caliber firearm – were found at the school along with magazines and ammunition. Jeffrey Rupnow had purchased both guns legally in Dane County, Patterson said, along with a gun found at the home that was intended to be a gift for the shooter.
