- Teen shooter accessed father's firearms using reversed Social Security code
- Detailed plans included school model, manifesto, and timed attack schedule
- Case follows Michigan/Georgia precedents for parental criminal charges
Wisconsin authorities have filed felony charges against Jeffrey Rupnow after his 15-year-old daughter Natalie used his firearms in a deadly school attack. The December 2023 shooting at Abundant Life Christian School left two dead and six injured before the perpetrator took her own life. Investigators recovered multiple weapons from the scene, including a 9mm pistol the father purchased for his daughter.
Court documents reveal disturbing details about the shooter's preparation. Natalie Rupnow constructed a cardboard replica of the school building and authored a manifesto titled War Against Humanity, which criticized her father's parenting and detailed her admiration for previous school attackers. Security footage shows she timed the assault to last precisely 40 minutes before her planned suicide.
This case continues a national pattern of holding parents legally responsible for their children's violent acts. In 2023, Michigan became the first state to convict parents of involuntary manslaughter after their son killed four classmates. Georgia prosecutors similarly charged a father in 2024 when his teenage son allegedly used family weapons in a school attack.
Firearm safety experts emphasize three critical failures in this case: Using memorable safe combinations (like reversed Social Security numbers), inadequate supervision during weapon maintenance, and ignoring behavioral red flags. The shooter's prior therapy sessions for PTSD and self-harm tendencies reportedly went unaddressed regarding her firearm access.
Legal analysts note this Wisconsin prosecution could set new precedents for interpreting safe storage laws. Twenty-four states currently have criminal negligence statutes for firearm owners, but enforcement remains inconsistent. The case also raises questions about balancing parental bonding activities (like target shooting) with proper safety protocols.
School security specialists recommend three measures for religious institutions: Implementing weapon detection systems, conducting annual safe storage workshops for parents, and creating anonymous reporting systems for concerning student behavior. These steps become particularly crucial for smaller schools like Abundant Life, which serve multiple grade levels in single buildings.
