The youngest survivors of a school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, have revealed their terror and panic after watching a teacher get shot in front of them.
Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow, 15, opened fire on kids and staff at Abundant Life Christian School on Monday – raining bullets in the study hall before turning the gun on herself.
One student and one teacher were pronounced dead, but horrified children as young as eight have recounted the bloody massacre that happened in front of their eyes.
Shooter Rupnow died in an ambulance on the way to hospital after being found on the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police last night raided her family home eight miles away from the school, with SWAT teams deploying stun grenades on the property.
Rupnow may have left behind a chilling manifesto, which investigators are now sifting through – but are yet to confirm its validity.
Nora Gottsckalk, eight, was in the hallway before 11am, getting ready for lunch, when she saw a teacher she knew well injured in the unhinged gunfire.
‘She was screaming, “Ah my leg, help, help,”‘ the young girl told CNN affiliate WISC as she grasped a Spongebob ice cream, after being reunited with family.
Nora Gottsckalk, eight, was in the hallway of Abundant Life Christian School in Madison just before 11am, getting ready for lunch, when cops say Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow opened fire
Sixth-grader Alder Jean-Charles (right) also told how he was attending English class when at the small Christian school when he heard two gunshots
‘I was really scared, and I was really sad,’ she said.
Sixth-grader Alder Jean-Charles also told how he was attending English class when at the small Christian school when he heard two gunshots ring out.
He recalled: ‘Some people started crying and then we just waited until the police came and they escorted us out. I was scared. Why did they do that?’
Students who survived the shooting were taken to hospital to be reunited with their parents, and when Alder was reunited with his two brothers, they all cried and prayed together, his mother Mireille Jean-Charles said.
When asked whether she was okay, the mom shook her head and broke down into tears.
Mireille Jean-Charles said: ‘It’s sad, you know, to be home and when somebody calls you and says your kids’ school is in lockdown and a shooting, and you don’t know where they are.
‘Thank God they were safe, but the trauma – it’s a lot because I’m sure they lost friends and teachers, which is not okay.
‘And I don’t think they’ll be okay for a long time.’
Mourners have gathered at nearby Blackhawk Church gather to pray for victims and survivors
The victims – including the two dead students – have yet to be identified, pending family notification
Police got a 911 call at 10:57am Monday morning, and within three minutes, county sheriff’s deputies had arrived at Abundant Life Christian School, which educates about 420 students between the ages of three years old and the end of high school. Local police arrived seconds later.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said that a second-grade student was the one who called 911 to the school.
At 11:05am, they said that they’d found the shooter wounded and recovered the weapon. Rupnow was pronounced dead en route to the hospital.
A law enforcement source told CNN that Rupnow ‘had been dealing with problems and expressed some of those in writings, which they are now reviewing.’
A manifesto, that cops have not confirmed is linked to the teen, was published on social media.
Simultaneously, fire department workers got to the scene and began to care for the victims. Currently, two students are hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and are said to be in critical condition.
A teacher and three other students were also hospitalized with less serious wounds. Two of them were released Monday evening.
Victims have yet to be identified, pending family notification.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said that a second-grade student was the one who called 911 to the school
The community in Madison are still reeling from the tragedy, as several victims remain hospitalized
Governor Tony Evers said on X: ‘I am closely monitoring the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison.’
‘We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.’
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson said on X: ‘My sincere condolences and prayers for all the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.’
The school was just days away from closing for Christmas Vacation and students were gearing up for Monday night’s basketball game.
Abundant Life Christian School posted a prayer request on Facebook in the wake of the shooting.
‘Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are in the midst of following up. We will share information as we are able,’ the school said.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the school shooting. Senior White House officials said they are in touch with local counterparts in Madison to provide support.
Mourners have gathered at nearby Blackhawk Church gather to pray for victims and survivors.
Cops confirmed that shooter Rupnow was not on their radar and had no prior interactions with her before today, though they said a probe would confirm that.
