Crime
Abundant Life Christian School Shooter Natalie Rupnow’s Full Manifesto Revealed
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:
- 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. - 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.” - 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.
- 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.
On January 28, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., officers assigned to the Northern District responded to a reported shooting at the Northrop Grumman facility located in the 7300 block of Aviation Boulevard in Linthicum, Maryland.
Upon arrival, officers determined that the scene had already been secured by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MDTA), who had the suspected shooter in custody.
Preliminary findings indicate the incident stemmed from a dispute between two contracted security guards working inside the facility.
During the altercation, one of the guards discharged a firearm, striking the other.
The victim was identified as 37-year-old Joseph Keith Aman of Baltimore, Maryland. He sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities stated that a third contracted security guard intervened during the incident, successfully disarming the suspect and detaining him until law enforcement arrived.
Investigators confirmed the shooting was an isolated incident and did not involve any Northrop Grumman employees.
There was no ongoing threat to the public or the facility following the incident.
Anne Arundel County Police Department Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene and assumed control of the investigation.
Detectives conducted multiple witness interviews, while Evidence Collection Unit technicians processed the scene and recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting.
The suspect was identified as 26-year-old Dylan Blake Chandler of Pasadena, Maryland.
He has been formally charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and additional related offenses.
Northrop Grumman issued a statement acknowledging the incident, saying:
“We are aware of an isolated incident involving two contractors at one of our Baltimore-area facilities. We are cooperating fully with local law enforcement as they investigate the matter. The safety of our employees and contractors across all facilities remains our top priority.”
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Although an arrest has been made, detectives are continuing to gather information.
Anyone with knowledge related to the incident is urged to contact the Anne Arundel County Police Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous may contact the county’s tip line at 410-222-4700.
Further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.