FBI Investigation Uncovers Carlsbad Man, 20, Allegedly Plotted Attack with 15-Year-Old Madison Shooting Suspect — Details

An FBI investigation revealed that Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, the teenage shooter who attacked the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, had been in contact with a 20-year-old man from Carlsbad, California named Alexander Paffendorf, who was allegedly planning a mass shooting at a local government building.

FBI agents acted swiftly with the information, accusing and serving Paffendorf with a civil gun violence restraining order, which allowed authorities to seize weapons from his possession.

The restraining order, which CBS 8 obtained, detailed an alarming admission made by Paffendorf during an FBI interview, where he confessed to proposing an attack involving explosives and firearms.

Messages exchanged between Paffendorf and Rupnow, reviewed by federal agents, were cited as evidence in the investigation. The swift judicial response came late Tuesday evening, December 17, with a San Diego Superior Court judge approving the order at 8:51 p.m.

Shortly after, Paffendorf’s Carlsbad residence became the site of a significant police operation. One of Paffendorf’s neighbors, Alex Gallegos, reported seeing about 15 police officers with “full guns out all over the street.” He also mentioned that officers carried out a “black gun box” from the property.

Reflecting on the tense scene, Gallegos described the situation as “wild and scary,” emphasizing how unsettling it was to have such an incident occur so close to home. “I didn’t see them arrest anybody, but they gave high-fives as it came to an end,” added the neighbor.

While the FBI has deferred comments to the Madison Police Department, CBS 8 has noted that their report on the story will be updated as more information becomes available.

The protective order against Paffendorf came just two days after Rupnow’s deadly attack in Madison, where she killed two individuals and injured six others, two of whom remained hospitalized Wednesday, before taking her own life.

The identities of the two people whose lives were tragically cut short by the school shooting have been released by the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office.

One victim was a dedicated teacher and the other was a promising ninth grader. They both leave behind legacies of love, talent, and devotion that have deeply impacted their school community.

The 42-year-old educator, Erin Michelle West, lived in DeForest, Wisconsin, and was a beloved figure at Abundant Life Christian School. Having initially served as a substitute teacher for three years, she had recently taken on the role of substitute coordinator.

Known for her compassionate nature and her ability to connect with students, West was described by seventh grader Angel Brube as “kind and caring” and an excellent communicator.

Sophomore Mackynzie Wilson, who saw West just hours before the tragedy, recalled her teacher’s infectious enthusiasm for life, and her deep love for her daughters, whose futures she was very excited about.

“She would have done anything for them… I just wish I could’ve gone back and given her a hug,” shared Wilson. West’s demise has left a palpable void in the hearts of those who knew her.

Rubi Patricia Vergara, the 14-year-old freshman who was killed, was a student full of artistic promise and joy. Known for her love of art, music, and animals, Vergara played the keyboard in her family’s worship band and shared a deep bond with her pets, Ginger the cat and Coco the dog.

Her obituary highlighted that she was an “avid reader” who cherished creating and expressing herself through art. According to CNN and the late student’s online obituary, there will be a funeral service for Vergara in Madison this Saturday (December 21), followed by her burial at Roselawn Memorial Park.

As a young girl brimming with ambition and creativity, her loss is keenly felt by her family, friends, and the school community.

The recent details shared come after police officials first identified Rupnow as the perpetrator and began piecing together the information they had at that time, including Rupnow’s potential motives.

As reported by The Associated Press (AP), Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes revealed that investigators were working to understand the reasons behind the attack.

“Identifying a motive is our top priority, but at this time it appears that the motive is a combination of factors,” he said. Reports state that the shooter used a handgun in the attack, and police are continuing their investigation to determine how Rupnow obtained the weapon.

Barnes also confirmed that investigators are examining whether the firearm was owned or possessed by her parents.

“We also want to look at if the parents may have been negligent. And that’s a question that we’ll have to answer with our district attorney’s office. But at this time, that does not appear to be the case,” disclosed the police chief.

Police also spoke with Rupnow’s father to gather information about his knowledge of the events leading up to the shooting and whether he was aware of any warning signs or plans. “But again, he lost someone as well,” Barnes noted, recognizing the difficulty of the situation for Rupnow’s father.

Additionally, investigators believe Rupnow was already inside the school when the attack began and have confirmed that no security breach occurred.

Regarding the matter of the victims, when Barnes was asked if Rupnow deliberately targeted her victims, he said, “We don’t know if there would be a reason to target a (substitute) teacher, in this case, who doesn’t have significant ties to the school.”

Before their identities were released, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Joe Parisi declined to name the victims, citing privacy concerns. “Leave them alone,” Rhodes-Conway said during a press conference.

Besides talking to Runpow’s dad, police have been analyzing her electronic devices, which were turned over to FBI technicians, to determine if she communicated her plans or warned anyone about the attack. “There are always signs of a school shooting before it occurred [sic]. We’re looking into her online activity,” Barnes stated.

Daniel Brunner, a retired FBI supervisory special agent, suggested the importance of addressing potential missed warning signs. “If they missed a red flag and chose not to address it, if she made overt actions and overt statements that she wants to kill and they didn’t do it, that should be considered too,” he remarked.

The tragedy has left the Abundant Life Christian School community in shock. The nondenominational school, serving prekindergarten through high school, has about 420 students.

Outside the school, community members paid tribute to the victims. Mackenzie Truitt, whose brother graduated from Abundant Life Christian School, placed a red poinsettia at the entrance. “My heart sunk because I know how awesome a lot of these kids are,” Truitt shared.

Truitt also described the widespread fear during the shooting, highlighting the distress of not being able to contact loved ones. She called the experience deeply unsettling for everyone involved.

As the police continue to investigate the motives behind the Abundant Life Christian School shooting, the grieving community is seeking answers while healing.

At this time, we extend our heartfelt condolences to all of West and Vergara’s loved ones as they mourn their significant losses. We also hope for the full recovery of the victims who were injured during the shooting.