MADISON, Wis. — The father of 15-year-old Abundant Life school shooter Natalie Rupnow in Madison has been arrested, according to records maintained by the state Department of Justice.
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Those records show Jeffrey Rupnow was arrested Thursday, May 8, on two charges: intentionally selling a dangerous weapon to a person under the age of 18, a felony, and contributing to the delinquency of a child, also a felony.
Natalie Rupnow killed 14-year-old freshman Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin Michelle West and severely injured two other students when she opened fire during a study hall on Monday morning, Dec. 16, 2024. She then turned the gun on herself.
Alleged warning signs ignored
Prosecutors allege Jeffrey admitted to purchasing firearms for his underage daughter, who had documented mental health issues, a history of suicidal ideation, and had been the subject of a June 2022 notification from Madison police about high-risk behavior she was engaging in online, according to a criminal complaint.
Prosecutors also said Natalie asked to clean one of her guns the night before the shooting. Jeffrey said he gave it to her and she cleaned it in her room, but he wasn’t sure if it was returned to the gun cabinet before he locked it.
WATCH: Father of Abundant Life Christian School shooter Natalie Rupnow arrested on felony charges
The complaint details several contradictory statements Jeffrey made regarding access to the gun safe.
He said he and Natalie went to the gun range about six weeks before the shooting and saw it as a bonding activity. He also told detectives that he would unlock the safe before they left, and Natalie was responsible for packing the bag with firearms, according to the complaint.
Jeffrey claimed that Natalie didn’t officially know the code, but that he had told her the PIN was his Social Security number backwards, in case of an emergency. He also noted she may have seen him enter the code several times in the past.
"What should never be controversial is that children should never have the opportunity to use a gun to harm a classmate, a loved one or a teacher, whether by accident or on purpose guns are not a solution to conflict and we must stop normalizing their use and their accessibility," Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said during a press conference Thursday.
Evidence of Planning
According to the complaint, investigators found evidence of detailed planning for the school shooting in Jeffrey’s home, including a specific date, location, maps, timelines, and a cardboard model of the school.
They also found a manifesto titled “War Against Humanity,” in which Natalie expressed admiration for previous school shooters. She wrote about being afraid of other kids, growing to hate people, and described a “population of scum.” She referenced other shooters, specifically Pekka Eric Auvinen, calling him the “one true ideal of the so-called future,” and included pictures of him.
Alleged family problems at home
According to the complaint, during an interview with detectives, a friend of Natalie’s stated that Natalie often expressed self-doubt and talked about “her family being apart.” The friend noted that Natalie was frequently verbally aggressive and openly discussed her interest in guns and going to the range with her dad.
She also described Natalie and Jeffrey's relationship as difficult, with frequent arguments, and described Jeffrey as a “drinker.”
When asked about his parenting approach in an interview with detectives, Jeffrey said, “As you know, parenting you learn as you go. There's no manual. You are flying by the seat of your pants and making the best decisions for you and your child. I believe anytime I saw anything that was alarming or disturbing for [Natalie] I was as proactive as I could be for everything."
Jeffrey made his first court appearance on Friday, where his cash bail was set at $20,000. If he posts bail, he is required to be outfitted with a GPS device prior to his release.
He was also ordered not to purchase or possess any firearms, to avoid direct or indirect contact with Abundant Life Christian School, and to stay away from the 4900 block of E. Buckeye Road in Madison.
The news of Rupnow's arrest comes after a California man, Alexander Paffendorf, was barred from owning or possessing firearms for three years on April 29. Authorities said Paffendorf had exchanged messages with Natalie. He has not been charged with any crime and is not expected to be. No firearms were found registered in his name or located in his home.
TMJ4 typically does not use mug shots in our news coverage, but we are making an exception due to the high-profile nature of this case.
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