GhLinks Media
The two victims in Monday’s Madison school shooting have been identified as Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, of Madison, and Erin West, 42, of DeForest.
Both died at the scene of the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School where Vergara was a freshman and West was a substitute coordinator, according to the school’s staff directory.
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office on Wednesday evening released the names of Vergara and West following forensic autopsies.
Preliminary findings indicate both died due to firearm-related trauma, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Vergara’s family had previously authorized the release of the teen’s obituary earlier Wednesday evening, according to Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation in Monona.
The daughter of Vicente and Jennifer Vergara, Vergara is described in her obituary as an avid reader who loved art, singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band.
She “shared a special bond with her beloved pets,” a cat named Ginger and her dog Coco.
The shooting that took the lives of West and Vergara occurred around 11 a.m. Monday when 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who went by Samantha, opened fire in a study hall inside the school.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in an interview on Wednesday evening that police currently have no information indicating Rupnow was targeting a specific person.
He asked anyone with information that would indicate otherwise to contact police.
“The shooter made a decision to walk into that study hall with mixed high school students and open fire,” Barnes said. “Everyone in that room had an equal chance of dying that day.”
He did not know whether Rupnow was assigned to be in that study hall.
Six other students were injured before Rupnow turned the gun on herself. The medical examiner’s report stated Rupnow died at a Madison hospital.
Of the six who were injured, two students remained in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
A teacher and three other students were initially hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Two had been released from the hospital as of Monday evening.
