The youngest survivors of a school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, have revealed their fear and panic after seeing a teacher shot before their eyes.
Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, 15, opened fire on children and staff at Abundant Life Christian School on Monday. She rained bullets into the study hall before turning the gun on herself.
One student and one teacher were declared dead, but shocked children as young as eight have recounted the bloody carnage that took place before their eyes.
Shooter Rupnow died in an ambulance on the way to hospital after being found at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police last night raided her family’s home eight miles 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 its validity has yet to be confirmed.
Nora Gottsckalk, eight, was in the hallway getting ready for lunch before 11 a.m. when she saw a teacher she knew well injured by the erupting gunfire.
“She screamed, ‘Ah my leg, help, help,'” the young girl said told CNN affiliate WISC as she grabbed a Spongebob ice cream cone after being reunited with family.
Nora Gottsckalk, eight, was in the hallway of Abundant Life Christian School in Madison just before 11 a.m., getting ready for lunch, when police say Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow opened fire
Councilor Jean-Charles (right) from sixth grade also told how he was taking English class when he heard two gunshots at the small Christian school
“I was really scared and really sad,” she said.
Sixth-grader Councilor Jean-Charles also told how he was taking English class when he heard two gunshots ring out at the small Christian school.
He recalled: “Some people started crying and then we just waited for the police to come and they escorted us out. I was scared. Why did they do that?’
Students who survived the shooting were taken to the 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 if she was okay, the mother shook her head and burst into tears.
Mireille Jean-Charles said: ‘It’s sad to be at home and when someone calls you and says your children’s school is on lockdown and there’s shooting, and you don’t know where they are.
“Thank God they were safe, but the trauma is 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 much longer.”
Mourners have gathered at nearby Blackhawk Church to pray for victims and survivors
The victims – including the two dead students – have yet to be identified, pending notification of families
Police received a 911 call at 10:57 a.m. 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 and high school. Local police arrived seconds later.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said a second-grader was the one who called 911 to the school.
At 11:05 a.m., they said they found the gunman injured and recovered the weapon. Rupnow was pronounced dead en route to the hospital.
A law enforcement source told CNN that Rupnow ‘had dealt with problems and expressed some of them in writings, which they are now revising.’
A manifesto, which police have not confirmed is linked to the teenager, was published on social media.
At the same time, firefighters arrived on the scene and began caring for the victims. Two students are currently in hospital with life-threatening injuries and are said to be in critical condition.
A teacher and three other students were also hospitalized with less serious injuries. Two of them were released Monday evening.
The victims have yet to be identified pending notification of family.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said a second-grader was the one who called 911 to the school
The Madison community is still reeling from the tragedy as several victims remain hospitalized
Governor Tony Evers said on X, “I am closely following the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison.”
“We are praying for the children, teachers and the entire Abundant Life school community as we wait for more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.”
Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said on I will continue to monitor the situation closely.’
The school was only a few days away from closing for the Christmas holidays and the students were getting ready for Monday night’s basketball game.
Abundant Life Christian School posted a prayer request on Facebook in the aftermath of the shooting.
“Today we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are working on the follow-up. We will share information as we can,” the school said.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the school shooting. Senior White House officials said they are in contact with local counterparts in Madison to provide support.
Mourners have gathered at nearby Blackhawk Church to pray for victims and survivors.
Police confirmed that shooter Rupnow was not on their radar and had had no previous interaction with her before today, although they said an investigation would confirm that.