Natalie Rupnow, the 15-year-old teen who opened fire at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, may have been plotting separate attacks with a man in California.
FBI agents who were parsing through Rupnow's social media profiles and documents to identify her motive found that she was in contact with 20-year-old Alexander Charles Paffendorf, a man in Carlsbad, California. He was allegedly plotting a separate mass shooting event targeting a government building.
Specifically, the man told Rupnow that he would "arm himself with explosives and a gun" to attack an unspecified government building, per the New York Times.
The man has been detained and questioned by federal agents on Tuesday. His court hearing is scheduled for January 3, per CBS News, citing a court order.
Are There More Details About the School Shooting?
As of writing, police have yet to say what Rupnow's motive was in the Madison shooting but noted that a "combination of factors" led to the incident.
Authorities are still investigating whether Rupnow was targeting anyone in the attack or if she had planned it in advance.
"I do not know if she planned it that day or if she planned it a week prior," Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. "To me, bringing a gun to school to hurt people is planning. And so we don't know what the premeditation is."
A Madison city website that provided details about the school shooting noted that police officers found two guns at the scene, but Rupnow used only one. The gun she used was a 9mm pistol. Not much information was shared about the other gun found at the scene.
What About the Victims of the Shooting?
The Madison school shooting led to the deaths of three people: 42-year-old substitute teacher coordinator Erin M. West, 14-year-old freshman Rubi P. Vergara, and Rupnow herself.
Vergara's funeral will be held beginning Saturday at City Church. Her obituary noted that Vergara was an "avid reader" and played keyboard in the family worship band.
West's funeral was set for Monday at Doxa Church. West is survived by her three daughters, according to her obituary.
