Some students and parents went back inside Abundant Life Christian School Wednesday, for the first time since a student shooter opened fire Monday morning.15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who went by Samantha, shot into a study hall in the school, killing two and injuring six others, according to police. Investigators said she then turned the gun on herself.The Dane County Medical Examiner identified the two victims killed as 42-year-old Erin West, a teacher, and 14-year-old Rubi Vergara, a freshman student.When the gunfire broke out Monday just before 11 a.m., students and teachers had to run and leave their belongings behind. Groups returned to campus Wednesday to pick up their abandoned backpacks and coats, and to visit a growing memorial outside the school for the victims. "Someplace that was supposed to be safe, wasn't," said Hannah Reuschlein, a senior at Abundant Life who was visiting the memorial. It marks just one step in a long and difficult journey for students like Reuschlein, trying to process and grieve."All of the adults are trying to handle it the best they can," she said. "And all the students are banding together, because that's all we can do."Reuschlein said she was home sick with a fever Monday, but said had she gone to class, she would have been directly in the path of the shooter."I would have been in that study hall," Reuschlein said.Tearful visitors left flowers and balloons outside the school Wednesday for the victims who never made it out of that study hall. Reuschlein said her focus is on the victims, even as questions linger about how and why the teenage shooter opened fire."Its an unfortunate tragedy. And I do not know where it failed to get them the help they needed before they turned into the person they are now," Reuschlein said of the shooter.Her classmates are leaning on each other, to figure out how to move forward. "We can't crumble, that would be letting them win," she said.Support is pouring in for the community. The City of Madison has a page for mental health resources, and the United Way of Dane County has started a recovery fund.
Some students and parents went back inside Abundant Life Christian School Wednesday, for the first time since a student shooter opened fire Monday morning.
15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who went by Samantha, shot into a study hall in the school, killing two and injuring six others, according to police. Investigators said she then turned the gun on herself.
The Dane County Medical Examiner identified the two victims killed as 42-year-old Erin West, a teacher, and 14-year-old Rubi Vergara, a freshman student.
When the gunfire broke out Monday just before 11 a.m., students and teachers had to run and leave their belongings behind. Groups returned to campus Wednesday to pick up their abandoned backpacks and coats, and to visit a growing memorial outside the school for the victims.
"Someplace that was supposed to be safe, wasn't," said Hannah Reuschlein, a senior at Abundant Life who was visiting the memorial.
It marks just one step in a long and difficult journey for students like Reuschlein, trying to process and grieve.
"All of the adults are trying to handle it the best they can," she said. "And all the students are banding together, because that's all we can do."
Reuschlein said she was home sick with a fever Monday, but said had she gone to class, she would have been directly in the path of the shooter.
"I would have been in that study hall," Reuschlein said.
Tearful visitors left flowers and balloons outside the school Wednesday for the victims who never made it out of that study hall. Reuschlein said her focus is on the victims, even as questions linger about how and why the teenage shooter opened fire.
"Its an unfortunate tragedy. And I do not know where it failed to get them the help they needed before they turned into the person they are now," Reuschlein said of the shooter.
Her classmates are leaning on each other, to figure out how to move forward.
"We can't crumble, that would be letting them win," she said.
Support is pouring in for the community. The City of Madison has a page for mental health resources, and the United Way of Dane County has started a recovery fund.