Father of 15-year-old who killed 2 at Wisconsin religious school faces felony charges
Context:
In Wisconsin, the father of Natalie Rupnow, a 15-year-old girl who committed a school shooting, faces felony charges for allowing her access to the firearms used in the attack. The criminal complaint reveals that Natalie harbored a deep resentment towards humanity following her parents' divorce, leading her to meticulously plan the shooting which resulted in the deaths of a teacher and a fellow student at Abundant Life Christian School. Natalie had been struggling with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, and had a history of self-harm. Her father, Jeffrey Rupnow, attempted to bond with her through shooting, unwittingly enabling her access to guns by sharing the gun safe code and purchasing a pistol for her. The case highlights a growing trend of parents being held accountable for their children's actions in school shootings, as seen in similar cases across the United States.
Dive Deeper:
Jeffrey Rupnow has been charged with felonies for allowing his daughter, Natalie Rupnow, access to the firearms she used in a deadly school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, where she killed a teacher and a student before committing suicide.
Following her parents' divorce, Natalie developed a hatred for humanity and meticulously planned the attack, creating a school model and a detailed schedule, and aiming to end the shooting with her own death.
Natalie had been in therapy for social issues and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, but her mental health deteriorated, leading her to express violent tendencies and admiration for school shooters.
Jeffrey Rupnow, who attempted to connect with Natalie through shooting activities, inadvertently enabled her access to firearms by sharing the safe's code and purchasing a pistol as a gift, despite noticing her growing obsession with guns.
This incident is part of a broader legal trend where parents are facing charges related to their children's involvement in school shootings, as seen in previous cases in Michigan, Georgia, and Illinois, where parents have been convicted or charged for their roles in enabling access to firearms.