What Natalie Rupnow’s social media shows before Wisconsin school shooting

What Natalie Rupnow’s social media shows before Wisconsin school shooting


What’s New

On December 16 at 9.30 p.m. ET at a news conference, police identified 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow as the shooter in the killings at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin.

Posts, pictures and details from Natalie Rupnow and the person believed to be her father Jeff Rupnow’s social media accounts show some details of her life prior to the shooting.

Why It Matters

Rupnow opened fire in a Wisconsin school classroom on Monday, fatally shooting a teacher, a fellow student and wounding six others, before killing herself with a handgun, according to police.

Officials have said her family is cooperating with the investigation, and her home is being searched.

There have been at least 200 incidents of gunfire on school grounds this year, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy group.

What to Know

Jeff Rupnow appears to be the father of the shooter, Natalie Rupnow. Rupnow lives in the same area of Wisconsin, and has shared many pictures of what appears to be his daughter over the years, beginning in 2009, with the announcement of the birth of Natalie Lynne. This would make her 15 today.

Newsweek has reached out to Rupnow for clarification via social media outside of normal working hours.

The most recent picture shared was from August of this year, showing what appears to be Natalie Rupnow at a shooting range.

Two images from Jeff Rupnow, showing Natalie Rupnow at a shooting range and holding a dog. Her family is cooperating with the authorities.

Jeff Rupnow/Facebook

The image shows Natalie from the back handling a firearm with protective ear muffs on. A user commented on Jeff Rupnow’s post: “Is that kiddo?” to which Jeff Rupnow responded: “sure is!!!! We joined NBSC this spring and we have been loving all every second of it!”

NSBC appears to refer to North Bristol Sportsman’s Club, a Wisconsin-based shooting range. Newsweek reached out to the club for comment via email outside of normal working hours.

Jeff Rupnow has shared many photos of a person who appears to be his daughter over the years. Some photos show her with dogs, while another shows Natalie Rupnow at a karate competition. There are a number of pictures showing Natalie Rupnow as a smiling young child, and many pictures of her as a baby.

Natalie Rupnow’s own social media accounts have been deactivated or set to private. In an image shared on her X account prior to deactivation, a person is wearing combat boots and giving the ‘Ok’ sign with their fingers.

Natalie Rupnow
Images from Natalie Rupnow’s social media accounts, before she opened fire at her Wisconsin school on Monday December 16. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Natalie Rupnow/X

A manifesto allegedly written by Natalie Rupnow has been circulating on social media. However, police have said they have not been able to verify if it’s authentic.

Speaking at the press conference on Monday night, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said: “A document about this shooting is circulating on social media, but we have not verified its authenticity.

“We’re certainly aware that it’s been posted and the person who posted it, alleged to have a connection with the victim.”

What People Are Saying

During the news conference, Barnes said: “Today is a sad, sad, day. Not just for Madison, but for our entire country.”

What Happens Next

The investigation is ongoing, and more details will likely be released in time.

Following the shootings, questions have arisen over whether female mass shooters are on the rise. Though it is not currently clear what, if any role the gender of the shooter played in Monday’s shooting, additional questions are likely to be revealed in the coming days and months.

Newsweek has reached out to Madison City Hall via email for additional information outside of normal working hours.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.



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Kevin Harson

I am an editor for GQ British, focusing on business and entrepreneurship. I love uncovering emerging trends and crafting stories that inspire and inform readers about innovative ventures and industry insights.

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