MADISON, Wis. — Female school shooter: A 15-year-old girl identified as Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha, has been named as the shooter in Monday’s attack at Abundant Life Christian School. The incident left two victims dead and five others injured, two of whom remain in critical condition. Authorities report that Rupnow died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.
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The tragic event underscores the rarity of female school shooters in the United States. According to data from the FBI and U.S. Secret Service, such occurrences are exceptionally uncommon.
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Rare Profile of a Female Shooter
“This is a very sad but rare phenomenon,” said Don Mihalek, a retired senior special agent for the Secret Service. “Historically, school shootings are overwhelmingly committed by male perpetrators, typically white male students or former students.”
The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) studied 41 targeted school violence incidents between 2008 and 2017, revealing that 83% of suspects were male, with females making up only 17%. Similarly, an FBI report from 2023 found that 98% of shooters in active incidents were male.
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Female Active Shooters in Recent History
Though rare, female shooters have committed high-profile attacks in the past. Among them:
- Audrey Hale, 28, fatally shot six people, including three children, at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2023. Hale, who identified as male, had a history of emotional disorders and owned multiple firearms.
- Portia Odufuwa, 37, fired shots at Dallas’ Love Field Airport in 2022. She was later found not guilty by reason of insanity.
- Tashfeen Malik, 29, and her husband carried out the San Bernardino shooting in 2015, killing 14 people.
An FBI review of 345 suspects in 333 active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2019 found only 13 female perpetrators.
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Investigation and Motive
Authorities have not yet disclosed Rupnow’s motive or whether the victims were targeted specifically. The shooting occurred in a study hall shared by students from various grade levels.
Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that Rupnow’s parents are cooperating with the investigation. However, questions remain about how the teenager accessed the handgun used in the attack.
“In most cases, these weapons are obtained from family members,” Mihalek explained.
The Role of Social Media and Cyberbullying
Mihalek pointed to the impact of social media and online bullying as potential contributing factors.
“Social media is exacerbating mental health crises among young people,” Mihalek stated. “Instead of finding self-worth through achievements, kids are increasingly measuring their value in likes and views, which can lead to destructive behaviors.”
He added that cyberbullying is particularly prevalent among girls, creating grievances that can spiral into violence.
School’s Response and Community Impact
Abundant Life Christian School serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Monday’s shooting marks a devastating loss for the tight-knit community.
As investigators comb through Rupnow’s social media history for clues, the tragedy has sparked renewed conversations about addressing the mental health challenges facing young people.
Authorities and educators emphasize the importance of identifying at-risk behaviors early and addressing pathways to violence before they escalate.
