A 15-year-old girl has been identified as the suspect in a tragic shooting at a Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, where she fatally shot a classmate and a teacher. The Madison Police Chief reported that the shooter possessed two handguns during the incident.

According to Chief Shon Barnes from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the shooter, Natalie Rupnow, a freshman at Abundant Life Christian School, opened fire in a classroom during study hall, killing two individuals and wounding six others before she reportedly turned the weapon on herself.

The police chief mentioned that there are still many unanswered questions regarding her motives as the investigation continues, focusing on her cellphone records and how she acquired the guns.

“Preliminary investigations suggest that one of the handguns was used in the shooting, while the other was not,” said Barnes, explaining that a ballistics analysis will confirm the specifics about the firearms used.

Law enforcement is aware of the firearms’ origins and can trace their history, although Barnes refrained from disclosing too much information for potentially legal ramifications. He emphasized that it’s premature to discuss any charges related to the incident.

Determining how she obtained the firearms is a key component of the ongoing investigation. Chief Barnes revealed they have enlisted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to assist in tracing the guns’ origins.

The Journal Sentinel interviewed Chief Barnes shortly after reports emerged of a man in California being detained, believed to be connected to Rupnow. Court documents reveal the 20-year-old may be involved in planning a mass shooting at a government facility alongside the Madison school shooter. Barnes stated he couldn’t comment further on this case and advised inquiries be directed to the FBI.

He discussed the incident as details were still unfolding and the community grappled with the aftermath of this fatal shooting.

The victims of the incident were named for the first time: Rubi Patricia Vergara, a 14-year-old from Madison, and Erin M. West, aged 42, from Deforest.

Regarding the injured individuals, Barnes mentioned that the hospital has ceased updating the police on their conditions due to privacy regulations. As far as he knows, those injured persons are still alive.

On Tuesday, he reported that out of the six injured, two students remained in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. A teacher and three other students were initially admitted with injuries that were not life-threatening. By Monday evening, two of them had been discharged from the hospital.

He noted that based on current police information, he could not confirm if she was targeting a particular individual. He urged anyone with information regarding a possible target to contact the police.

“The shooter decided to enter that study hall filled with high school students and open fire,” he stated. “Everyone in that room had the same risk of losing their life that day.”

It is unclear if she was meant to be in that study hall.

Details about the shooter are limited.

Court documents show that she moved between her parents’ homes, who have had multiple marriages and divorces during her life, finalizing their latest separation in the summer of 2022.

In the aftermath of the shooting, attention has shifted to the freshman student’s online activities. However, many of the reports—some attributed to her—remain unconfirmed.

The department is trying to locate the individual who initially posted what is believed to be a manifesto online because “it was claimed that this person had a direct connection to her.” If this is indeed true, that person may possess crucial information for investigators, according to Barnes.

Investigators are also analyzing the teenager’s cell phone to verify if the document came from her device.

(This story was updated to include new information.)