Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow Enrolled At Shooting Sportsclub Was Not Transgender, Father’s Post Confirms She Was Born a Girl

The police chief investigating the deadly shooting at Abundant Life Christian School has addressed claims that the suspect, Natalie Rupnow, was transgender.

Police identified Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow as the shooter at the Christian school but have yet to reveal a motive following the deadly attack at Abundant Life Christian School around 11 a.m. on Monday.

Six people were taken to nearby hospitals after the shooting, with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.

In addition, Natalie was found dead when officers responded to Abundant Life Christian School. Evidence suggests the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

At a press conference on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said Rupnow’s motive may have been a”combination of factors,” the police were talking to students to determine whether Rupnow had been bullied.

The teenager was reported to have had a difficult life at home, according to court reports.

Facebook photos surfaced Tuesday of Rupnow at a firing range pointing a gun and wearing a t-shirt similar to now worn by the Columbine killer Eric Harris.

Rupnow was encouraged by her father to practice her weapons-handling skills in the months leading up to Monday’s bloodshed, according to a review of his online activity.

Investigators are questioning Natalie’s father, Jeff Rupnow. He said he didn’t know whether the mother had been questioned, noting that she’s been out of town.

Online Users Speculated That Alleged Wisconsin School Schooter Natalie Is Transgender

Many social media users have claimed that the shooter, Natalie Rupnow, was transgender.

However, the police chief investigating Monday’s deadly Wisconsin Christian school shooting is adamant that the shooter’s identity isn’t “important at all.”

There’s a post by her father sharing a picture of Natalie as a newborn baby girl.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes dismissed concerns about Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow’s identity when asked about early rumors that she was possibly transgender. Barnes said,

The comments came when he was asked about a flurry of unverified posts online claiming the shooter was transgender, suggesting it played a part in the carnage at the K-12 Abundant Life Christian School. The police chief complained,

Despite the rumors, investigators are also focusing on clues from the home where the shooter lived with her father. The front door to the home was ripped off by police evidence teams serving a search warrant.

Investigators say they also want an inventory of all guns the shooter had access to.

Police said the teen shooter used a handgun, and they are investigating the origin of the firearm.

They also speak with her father and try to determine what he knew or may not have known about what happened.

Local police have now turned over the teen’s electronic equipment to FBI evidence technicians, looking for a motive and whether friends or family members knew that there was an attack plot or had been warned that violence was to happen.

Whether she was motivated by the Columbine Killers or just had an affinity for them, police are hoping to determine.

Additional Information

• Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow was born to her father, Jeff Rupnow, and her mother, Mellissa Rupnow. As per various reports, her parents have officially divorced.
• Rupnow was one of the rare female school shooters; according to the New York Times, of the 258 school shooting suspects whose gender was identified this year, only nine were female.
• Joe Biden mentioned his administration’s efforts to combat the gun violence epidemic in the United States, including the implementation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.