Tributes left outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis. Photo:
Scott Olson/Getty
A California man has reportedly been detained after being accused of communicating with the teenage shooter who killed two people at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis. on Monday, Dec. 16.
Alexander Paffendorf, 20, of Carlsbad, allegedly revealed to FBI agents that he’d told the 15-year-old shooter — identified by police as Natalie Rupnow — his plans to “arm himself with explosives and a gun” and “target a government building,” per a gun violence restraining order obtained by NBC 7.
The Associated Press, who didn’t identify the man, reported that he posed an “immediate danger to himself and others.”
The man was detained “after he was discovered plotting a mass shooting with the Madison Wisconsin shooter,” NBC News stated, citing a Carlsbad police officer in the gun violence restraining order documents.
A photo of crime scene tape outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis. Scott Olson/Getty
The FBI have seen the messages sent from the Calif. man to Rupnow, per the outlet, adding that the order had been approved by a San Diego County judge and had been served to the man at his home just before 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Paffendorf was detained, but it’s not clear if he was arrested, per NBC 7.
A court hearing regarding the gun violence restraining order is set for Jan. 3, according to NBC News.
Renee Foreman, a neighbor of Paffendorf’s, said “You would never think that would happen. In your own neighborhood, across the street from your house. That’s not good. That’s scary,” per NBC 7.
Carlsbad Police Department, Madison Police Department, San Diego’s FBI Office and a spokesperson for the San Diego County Superior Court didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for further information.
The update comes after the two deceased victims of the shooting were identified as a student and a staff member on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Six others were hospitalized following the attack, with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes previously said.
According to a release from the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office which was obtained by PEOPLE, the victims were identified as Erin M. West, 42, and Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14.
Preliminary autopsy results showed that both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene and died of “homicidal firearm-related trauma,” per the release.
The Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis. Scott Olson/Getty
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Barnes identified the shooter as Rupnow, who went by the name “Samantha,” in a press conference on Monday, Dec. 16.
The teen is alleged to have opened fire with a handgun in a study hall at the school, before turning her weapon on herself.
According to the medical examiner’s report, Rupnow was pronounced dead at a local hospital following the incident. Preliminary autopsy results confirmed that she died as a result of “firearm-related trauma,” and additional testing is underway.
Authorities are yet to establish a motive, but Rupnow’s family is cooperating with the investigation, and law enforcement has searched her home, Barnes said at a previous press conference.
On Wednesday, Dec. 18. Barnes also told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that police don’t currently believe that Rupnow was targeting a specific person.
