The teenage student and substitute teacher who were murdered while shooting at a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsinwere identified on Monday as new details about the alleged shooter were revealed.
The Dane County Medical Examiner shared its report with Fox News Digital late Wednesday, identifying 14-year-old student Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin M. West as the deceased victims in a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School. .
The report stated that West, of Deforest, and Vergara, of Madison, were both pronounced dead at the scene and that preliminary investigation results confirm that both died as a result of “homicidal firearm-related trauma.”
The report also identified the alleged shooter as 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” L. Rupnow, who was also pronounced dead at the scene due to “firearm-related trauma.”
MADISON, WISCONSIN, SCHOOL SHOOTING SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL
Emergency vehicles are parked outside Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, following a shooting on Monday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The medical examiner said more testing is still taking place at this time.
“These deaths remain under investigation by the City of Madison Police Department and the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information will be released at this time,” the report said.
According to an obituary, Vergara was a freshman at Abundant Life Christian School and was described as “an avid reader, lover of the arts, and singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band.”
Vergara’s aunt told Fox News Digital that it has been a “very tough week” for their family, as they try to get through her niece’s funeral, which will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday in Madison.
Madison police confirmed to Fox News Digital that two guns were recovered from the school after the shooting. However, Rupnow is said to have used only one weapon.
MADISON, WISCONSIN, SCHOOL SHOOTING LEAVES 2 DEAD, 6 INJURED; JUVENILE SUSPECT DEATH
Emergency vehicles are parked outside the SSM Health clinic where parents are reunited with children following a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, Monday. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said “identifying a motive is our top priority.” He said the motive appears to be a combination of factors, but did not elaborate.
“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will forever be a victim. We need to find out and try to piece together exactly what happened,” Barnes said.
Police were We spoke with Rupnow’s father and other family members, who were cooperative, and searched Rupnow’s home, Barnes said. He declined to provide further details about the shooter, partly out of respect for the family.
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Police investigate as emergency vehicles parked outside Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting on Monday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
“He lost someone, too,” Barnes said of Rupnow’s father. “And so we’re not going to rush the information. We’re going to take our time and make sure that we do our due diligence.”
Barnes added that two students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. A teacher and three other students were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Barnes said two of those individuals have since been released.
James and Rebekah Smith, whose 17-year-old daughter is a student at Abundant Life Christian School, told Fox News they know all the victims and their families.
The Smiths said their daughter was not in the same class as Rupnow, the alleged shooter, or knew her well, but said Rupnow was new to the school and had enrolled sometime during the current semester.
They added that their daughter and her group of friends said they never saw Rupnow talking to anyone at school.
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Rebekah Smith said the slain teacher had a daughter who played sports with the Smiths’ daughter, and they talked to the mother all the time during the games.
She added that the victim had been a long-term substitute teacher at the school and only became a full-time teacher this year.
Anders Hagstrom and Garrett Tenney of Fox News contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
