The victims in this week’s school shooting in Wisconsin have been identified.
An obituary published on Wednesday listed the student who was killed as Rubi Patricia Vergara. She was 14 years old and a freshman at Abundant Life Christian School, The Associated Press reported. Vergara had been a student at the school since kindergarten.
Then the Dane County Medical Examiner identified the teacher who was killed as Erin Michelle West, 42. She was initially identified as Michelle E. West, according to the AP. West was a substitute teacher for three years before she became the substitute coordinator and an in-house sub, school officials said.
Kennesaw State University spokesperson told WSB, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Erin West, a KSU alumna whose life was taken far too soon in an act of senseless violence. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all who are mourning this unimaginable tragedy.”
Six other people were injured. Two students were still hospitalized while the other four were discharged, police said Wednesday, CNN reported.
Police still don’t have a motive for the shooting or if anyone was specifically targeted, the AP reported.
The shooter, Natalie Rupnow, who went by Samantha, had two handguns on her on Monday, but officials have not said how she got them or who bought them, CNN reported.
Her parents are divorced, and according to the divorce records, Rupnow was in therapy in 2022, but did not disclose why.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man from California has a restraining order against him issued by a judge under the state’s red flag law, the AP reported.
The order requires Alexander Paffendorf from Carlsbad, California, to turn over his guns and ammunition to police. The man told FBI agents he had been messaging Rupnow about attacking a government building using a gun and explosives. The building was not disclosed or when he planned to allegedly carry it out.
The order also didn’t give details on the interactions between the two other than to say that he was allegedly planning a mass shooting with her, the AP reported.
The FBI said agents saw the messages between Paffendorf and Rupnow, KFMB reported.
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