When a tragedy strikes in a place like Madison or the quiet village of Mount Horeb, people naturally go looking for answers. They want to see a face. They want to understand the "why." Often, this leads to a frantic search for a picture of Wisconsin school shooter Natalie Rupnow or Damian Haglund.
It’s a visceral reaction. Honestly, seeing a photo makes it feel real, even if the reality is something we’d all rather ignore. But in the age of digital footprints and "No Notoriety" movements, the story behind these images—and the people in them—is a lot more complicated than a simple thumbnail on a news site.
The December Tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School
On December 16, 2024, the quiet halls of Abundant Life Christian School in Madison were shattered. Natalie Lynn "Samantha" Rupnow, a 15-year-old student, walked into a mixed-age study hall and opened fire.
She didn't just bring one gun. She had two: a 9mm Glock 19 and a .22-caliber Sig Sauer. The results were devastating. Teacher Erin Michelle West and 14-year-old student Rubi Vergara were killed. Six others were wounded. Eventually, Rupnow turned the gun on herself.
You've probably seen the grainy images or the social media screenshots circulating. There was one specific detail that chilled investigators: Rupnow was wearing a black T-shirt with a bullseye on it during the attack.
What the "War Against Humanity" revealed
When police searched her room, they didn't just find typical teenage stuff. They found a six-page manifesto she’d titled "War Against Humanity."
It was dark. She described people as "filth." She talked about her admiration for previous school shooters and, maybe most tragically, how she’d manipulated her father's "stupidity" to get her hands on the weapons.
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- The Schedule: She had a literal cardboard model of the school and a handwritten timeline.
- The Online Connection: She was reportedly messaging a man in California about a "total war" against society.
- The Bullseye: The shirt wasn't an accident; it was part of a planned aesthetic for her "final act."
The May 1st Confrontation in Mount Horeb
Just months before the Madison shooting, another incident rocked the state in Mount Horeb. This one was different. On May 1, 2024, 14-year-old Damian Haglund arrived at Mount Horeb Middle School with a Ruger air rifle—a pellet gun that looked exactly like a high-powered firearm.
He never made it inside.
Responding officers, fearing for their lives and the lives of the students, engaged Haglund outside the building. Because the pellet gun lacked the standard orange safety tip, the police thought they were facing a lethal rifle. Haglund was shot and killed by law enforcement.
The picture of Wisconsin school shooter Damian Haglund that emerged later wasn't of a hardened criminal. It was of a kid who had been blogging about his "addiction" to learning about school shootings. He called himself a "Columbiner." He even left a note for the officer who would eventually kill him, saying, "it's not your fault."
Why certain pictures go viral (and others don't)
You've likely noticed that some photos of these shooters stay online forever while others seem to vanish. There is a massive ethical debate happening in newsrooms across Wisconsin right now.
Groups like "No Notoriety" argue that showing the shooter's face or manifestos gives them exactly what they wanted: fame. They suggest that the media should focus on the victims—like Rubi Vergara, who loved art and singing, or Erin West, a dedicated teacher.
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But the internet is a different beast.
Before police even release a name, classmates usually find the shooter's Instagram or TikTok. They screenshot everything. By the time an official picture of Wisconsin school shooter is released, hundreds of variations are already floating around on X (formerly Twitter) or Telegram. In Rupnow's case, she allegedly had a TikTok account filled with white supremacist memes and codes. Those images spread like wildfire in certain dark corners of the web, often being used to "glorify" the violence.
The legal fallout for the parents
One thing that makes the Wisconsin cases stand out is the accountability being pushed onto the parents. This isn't just about the kid in the photo anymore.
Jeffrey Rupnow, Natalie’s father, faced felony charges in 2025. Why? Because he allegedly gave her the .22-caliber pistol as a Christmas gift and left the safe code—which was just his Social Security number backward—easily accessible.
He even texted a friend ten days before the shooting saying Natalie might "shoot him" if he left the safe open. That kind of detail changes how we look at the "shooter" in the picture. It moves the lens from a "lone wolf" to a systemic failure at home.
Understanding the "Media Contagion" effect
There’s a real fear among psychologists that seeing a picture of Wisconsin school shooter Natalie Rupnow or Damian Haglund can trigger "copycats."
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In fact, after the Abundant Life shooting, investigators found that a shooter in another state had actually written "Rupnow" on his weapon. It’s a sick kind of "fan culture" that exists online. This is why many news outlets in 2026 are moving toward "slow journalism." They wait. They verify. They don't just post the most sensationalist photo they can find for clicks.
How to talk to kids about these images
If you’re a parent in Wisconsin, your kids have probably seen these pictures on their phones. You can't really hide them anymore. Basically, the best approach is to be honest but focused on the helpers.
- Acknowledge the fear: It’s okay to say it’s scary.
- Focus on the victims: Keep the names of Rubi Vergara and Erin West at the forefront.
- Explain the "Why": Without glamorizing it, explain that these were deeply troubled individuals who needed help they didn't get.
- Report threats: Use the "Speak Up, Speak Out" (SUSO) portal that many Wisconsin schools now use.
Moving forward in Wisconsin
The search for a picture of Wisconsin school shooter usually stems from a desire for closure. But a photo doesn't give you closure. It just gives you a face for the nightmare.
The real story is in the policy changes. Since these incidents, Wisconsin has seen a massive push for better threat assessment teams (BTAM). Schools are no longer just looking for "bad kids"; they are looking for "concerning behaviors" like social withdrawal, sudden changes in appearance, or an obsession with past shootings.
If you are looking for information on these cases, focus on the official reports from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. They provide the context that a random social media photo lacks.
The best way to honor the communities of Madison and Mount Horeb is to stay informed about school safety measures and to advocate for mental health resources before a crisis happens. If you see something concerning online—a photo of a weapon, a vague threat, or a "battle plan"—report it immediately to the 24/7 SUSO tip line at 1-800-MY-SUSO-1. Your action could prevent the next tragedy from ever needing a headline.