MADISON, WISCONSIN: New information has surfaced regarding the 15-year-old shooter at Abundant Life Christian School, identified as Samantha Rupnow, following contact with an individual claiming to be her boyfriend.

The source provided critical insights, including access to the shooter’s manifesto, titled “War Against Humanity.” The manifesto, which has been verified, sheds light on the shooter’s state of mind, motivations, and circumstances leading up to the tragedy.

The alleged boyfriend of Samantha Rupnow confirmed the authenticity of the manifesto by screen-recording himself accessing the document via a direct link sent to him by the shooter through WhatsApp. In a statement, he emphasized his desire to dispel misinformation and present the facts truthfully.

• The shooter’s full name was Samantha Rupnow, though she reportedly went by “Samantha” as her adopted name, which was also displayed on her school identification card. She also occasionally used another feminine name.
• Birth Information:
  Samantha Rupnow was born on November 7, 2009.
• Gender Clarification:
  She was born female and was not transgender, a point her boyfriend emphasized.
• School Enrollment:
  She was a student at Abundant Life Christian School.

Content of the Manifesto

The six-page manifesto, titled “War Against Humanity,” reveals deeply troubling insights into Samantha’s motivations, personal struggles, and influences:

1. Family Relationships:
   Samantha described her relationship with her parents as “extremely difficult,” referring to them as “scum.” She claimed her family “didn’t love her” and expressed feeling like the “wrong child” in her family.
2. Suicidal Ideation:
   Samantha stated that she had planned to commit suicide for a long time but felt that perpetrating a shooting would be “better for evolution rather than just one stupid boring suicide.”
3. Influences and Admiration:
   The manifesto highlights Samantha’s deep admiration for individuals responsible for previous mass attacks, including:
   • Pekka Eric Auvinen (a Finnish school shooter).
   • Arda Küçükyetim, a Turkish neo-Nazi who carried out a mass attack earlier this year. Samantha referred to Küçükyetim as “an ultimate saint” and acknowledged him as a significant inspiration.
   • Vladislav Roslyakov, a perpetrator of a 2018 school shooting in Crimea.
4. Acquisition of Weapons:
   Samantha revealed that she obtained the weapons used in the attack through “lies, manipulation, and [her] father’s stupidity.”

Insights from the Boyfriend

The shooter’s boyfriend, who had known her for two years through a long-distance relationship, provided the following details:

They met on social media and had never met in person. The boyfriend described Samantha as kind, generous, and cheerful in their interactions. He recounted that she frequently made him gifts without expecting anything in return.

• Manifesto Timeline:
  • Samantha sent the manifesto to her boyfriend via WhatsApp at approximately 10:30 a.m. (Eastern) on the day of the shooting.
  • She later posted the manifesto publicly to Twitter at 11:50 a.m. (Eastern).
  • The attack occurred at approximately 11:57 a.m. (Eastern).
  • The boyfriend did not see the message until 1:12 p.m. (Eastern), at which point the attack had already been carried out and Samantha was deceased.

• Gun Access:
  The boyfriend was aware of a gun safe in Samantha’s home but did not know how she managed to gain access to the weapons.
• Reaction to Circulating Images:
  The boyfriend noted that a widely circulated photo of Samantha appears to have been edited to “make her look worse.” He provided an unedited photo of Samantha wearing the same t-shirt and in the same room as the circulated image.

Rupnow describes her deeply troubled relationship with her father, noting repeated family instability marked by her parents divorcing multiple times. She further reveals that her mother struggled with drug addiction, while strongly implying that her father battled alcoholism.

She also highlights enduring bullying at school, which she identified as a major source of her pessimism and growing anger toward others. Her boyfriend corroborated this, emphasizing that the bullying played a significant role in shaping her negative outlook on life.

Court records reviewed confirm Rupnow’s account of her family’s repeated divorces and ongoing legal disputes between her mother and father, adding further credibility to her statements.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Madison Police Department, continue to investigate how Samantha acquired the handgun and the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Community Impact

The release of these new details has deepened the community’s grief as they continue to process this devastating tragedy. The investigation remains active, and authorities are expected to release further information as it becomes available.

Police Chief Shon Barnes has urged the public to remain patient and allow law enforcement to thoroughly analyze all available evidence.