The police chief investigating Monday’s deadly Wisconsin Christian school shooting is adamant that the 15-year-old killer’s gender identity isn’t “important at all.”
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes dismissed concerns about Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow’s identity when asked about early rumors that she was possibly transgender.
“I don’t know whether Natalie was transgender or not. And, quite frankly, I don’t think that’s important at all,” Barnes said of Rupnow, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after killing a teacher and a student.
“I don’t think whatever happened today has anything to do with how she or he or they may want to identify,” he stated.
The comments came when he was asked about a flurry of unverified posts online claiming the 15-year-old was transgender, suggesting it played a part in the carnage at the K-12 Abundant Life Christian School.
“I wish people would leave their own personal biases,” the police chief complained.
“We have lost members of our community. It’s something that may come out later but for what we’re doing today it is of no consequence at this time.”
Police said Rupnow, a student at the private Christian school, brought a handgun to campus and opened fire around 11 a.m. inside a classroom during study hall.
As the gunfire erupted, a second-grader in a nearby classroom called 911 for help, and police were on the scene in about three minutes, according to Barnes.
The teenage student and teacher were pronounced dead at the scene while another teacher and five more students were wounded.
Two of the students are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, Barnes said Monday night.
With Post wires