Further information has been revealed about the tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS) in Madison, Wisconsin, where a 15-year-old girl, Natalie Rupnow, took the lives of a teacher and a fellow student before ending her own life. School officials have disclosed that Rupnow was in her first semester at ALCS and that the attack unfolded within a span of just eight minutes.

The shooting occurred just before 11 a.m. on Monday within a study hall. Six other individuals were injured, two of whom sustained life-threatening wounds. The motive behind the attack remains unknown.

Barbara Wiers, the school's director for elementary and communications, stated that Rupnow was new to the school and had not exhibited any concerning behaviors that alerted teachers. Wiers shared that the eight-minute duration of the attack was shorter than the school's typical snack break. The community is grappling with the potential of never fully understanding the shooter's motivations.

The swift police response saw the first officer enter the building just one minute after the initial 911 call at 10:57 a.m. Wiers expressed the community's profound grief while also emphasizing their resilience and faith in the face of this tragedy.

Adding another layer of complexity to the investigation, reports indicate that Rupnow had been in communication with a 20-year-old man in Carlsbad, California, who was allegedly plotting a mass shooting. According to a restraining order, the man confessed to the FBI about his plans to target a government building using firearms and explosives. The connection between Rupnow and the man's plans remains unclear.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes affirmed that determining the motive for the school shooting remains a top priority and that there's no evidence suggesting the shooter's gender played a role. With the FBI's assistance, investigators are examining online records, interviewing Rupnow's parents and classmates, and exploring all possible avenues to understand the events leading up to the tragedy.

Authorities are also investigating the circulation of a document and images purportedly related to the shooter online, but their authenticity remains unverified. Chief Barnes acknowledged the lasting impact of this event on everyone present at the school that day and underscored the commitment to providing the public with as much information as possible as the investigation progresses.

Rupnow brought two firearms to the school, though only one was allegedly used in the attack. The source of the weapons remains unknown. The community is now preparing to mourn the loss of 14-year-old student Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin M. West, whose funerals are scheduled for Saturday and Monday, respectively.

Four of the six injured individuals have been released from the hospital, while two students remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. The ALCS community and the wider Madison area are grieving the loss of life and seeking answers in the wake of this devastating event.