Details in the alleged manifesto of suspected Wisconsin school shooter Natalie "Samantha" Rupnow paint a much darker picture of the 15-year-old's life than the content on her father's Facebook page.
Rupnow, 15, opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison on Monday, police said, killing one female teacher and a 17-year-old female student. Six other people were injured in the shooting before Rupnow died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police said they have not confirmed that a Google Doc titled "War Against Humanity" circulating on social media is Natalie Rupnow's confirmed manifesto. In the unconfirmed document, the author writes that they have "grown to hate people and society" and calls their parents "scum."
The author also writes that they acquired weapons "by lies and manipulation, and my father's stupidity" and describes wanting to die by suicide, but feeling like carrying out a shooting was "better for evolution rather than just one stupid boring suicide."
Meanwhile, posts and pictures on Jeff Rupnow's Facebook page paint a picture of a typical middle-class American family. Posts from November 2022 and November 2023 show his daughter happily playing with her dogs in a pile of leaves.
Jeff also posted a photo of Natalie at a gun range on August 17. In the photo, she is wearing a T-shirt featuring the logo of KMFDM, a German electro-industrial band, which is the same shirt worn by Eric Harris, one of the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
When a friend asked if the person shooting the gun was "kiddo," Jeff Rupnow replied, "Sure is!!!! We joined NBSC [North Bristol Sportsman's Club] this spring and we have been loving all every second of it!"
On December 20, 2022, Jeff invited his friends to Christmas church services at Bethel Lutheran in Madison, which he and Natalie Rupnow would be involved in.
"If your reading this, I invite you to come celebrate with us. All are welcome!!!! I will be there all afternoon and would love to see some old faces and give some hugs! Bonus, I've got kiddo ushering all 4 services with me! If I don't see you, I wish you the merriest Christmas!!!" Jeff wrote.
On October 12, 2022, Jeff posted a Facebook status about the importance of communication with the people around him.
"Communication is key in every aspect of life! Work, family, and even friendships. The second we stop communicating things start to break down. We may stop communicating due to distance, other obligations, or just because we are upset."
"I witnessed 3 forms of miscommunication today, and all 3 ended in a state that they shouldn't have. Be honest and open in your communications, if you aren't sure what someone is saying or means, ask for clarification. None of us are perfect, we can all get through this a lot easier if we can openly and honestly communicate," he wrote.
Madison Police Chief Shon F. Barnes to reporters on Tuesday: "At this time, it appears that the motive was a combination of factors. Some have asked if people were specifically targeted. Everyone was targeted in this incident, and everyone was put in equal danger."
"At this time we cannot verify its [alleged manifesto] authenticity. We have detectives working today to determine where this document originated, and who actually shared it online."
Abundant Life Christian School on Facebook on Wednesday: "Thank you to everyone in the Madison community who came out to support ALCS at the vigil downtown. We are most grateful for all the support! Likewise, we were overwhelmed by the showing of support tonight at City Church's Mourning Prayer Service. It is humbling to feel so much love and support."
President Joe Biden said in a statement: "We need Congress to act. Now. From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that don't receive attention -- it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence. We cannot continue to accept it as normal... Congress must pass commonsense gun safety laws: Universal background checks. A national red flag law. A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart."
Barnes said Tuesday that identifying a motive behind the shooting is a "top priority" for investigators. Jeff Rupnow and other family members are cooperating with investigators, Barnes said.