FBI brokers have detained 20-year-old Alexander Paffendorf for allegedly conspiring with Madison, Wisconsin college shooter Samantha Rupnow in planning a coordinated mass assault.
The apprehension comes within the wake of the tragic shooting at Plentiful Life Christian Faculty that resulted within the deaths of a pupil and a trainer, and accidents to 6 others earlier than she took her personal life.
Based on a gun violence restraining order obtained by CBS 8, Paffendorf had been in touch with Rupnow, sharing plans to focus on a authorities constructing utilizing explosives and firearms.
FBI brokers reportedly intercepted incriminating messages between the 2, resulting in Paffendorf’s detainment and the seizure of firearms from his residence.
The restraining order, signed by a San Diego Superior Court docket decide late Tuesday night, particulars how Paffendorf confessed to FBI brokers throughout an interview.
Throughout an interview with FBI brokers, Paffendorf reportedly admitted to plotting the assault, stating that he had mentioned arming himself with explosives and focusing on a authorities constructing.
The restraining order detailed the brokers’ findings, noting that Paffendorf’s messages confirmed his intent to behave in tandem with Rupnow’s violent assault in Madison.
Extra from CBS:
A San Diego Superior Court docket Choose accepted the restraining order on Tuesday, December 17, at 8:51 p.m.
Not lengthy after the decide signed the order, Paffendorf’s Carlsbad neighbors noticed greater than a dozen police automobiles enter the advanced.
“That they had their full weapons out everywhere in the road,” neighbor Alex Gallegos informed CBS 8. “There have been cop automobiles. I’d say about 15 cops right here.”
Gallegos then noticed police finishing up what he described as a “black gun field.”
“I noticed them finishing up the large field,” Gallegos stated. “I didn’t see them arrest anyone, however they gave high-fives because it got here to an finish.”
Gallegos added, “It sounds fairly wild and scary that this might occur so near dwelling.”
Jordan Conradson of The Gateway Pundit previously reported authorities are actively investigating the circumstances main as much as the capturing. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes acknowledged consciousness of a manifesto allegedly linked to Rupnow circulating on-line however has not confirmed its authenticity.
Now-confirmed X posts recognized the gunman as Samantha Rupnow.
Many on-line have claimed that the person glided by @Postalbrained on X and posted a manifesto on a personal Google Drive hyperlink. The Gateway Pundit was unable to entry the hyperlink as a result of it was restricted.
Additionally it is believed that the proprietor of the @Severd_Head account was in a relationship with the alleged shooter. It stays unclear whether or not this account belonged to Alexander Paffendorf. At the moment, this data is solely speculative.
Each accounts had been obtainable for anyone to view however have since been restricted to followers solely.
Submit Millenial reporter Andy Ngo stated on X Monday evening, “I can report that the deceased mass shooter at Plentiful Life Christian Faculty in Madison, Wisc. is a 15-year-old woman named Natalie Lynn Rupnow,” in accordance with a supply. He additional confirmed that the @Postalbrained X account is probably going her.
X has censored my thread because of the delicate particulars contained within the reporting. One should be not less than 18 and logged in to view the content material.
New particulars: The Plentiful Life Christian Faculty mass capturing occurred within the examine corridor on the second flooring of the campus, not the… pic.twitter.com/1aNrBiYC3q
— Andy Ngo ️ (@MrAndyNgo) December 17, 2024
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes stated they haven’t verified that the manifesto is genuine. “We’re actually conscious that it’s been posted, and the one that posted it alleged to have a reference to the sufferer,” he stated. Police haven’t situated the creators of the social media pages.
On the social media web page, archived here, that’s alleged to belong to the shooter, cryptic posts days and moments earlier than the capturing occurred, shortly earlier than 11 am CT, seem to lend credibility to the claims. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless unconfirmed whether or not or not the account belongs to Natalie Rupnow.
At roughly 11:50 am ET, round when the capturing is believed to have began, the account posted a hand making the “OK” signal from within a restroom. In a submit under the picture, a hyperlink to a personal Google Drive was printed, inflicting many to invest that the shooter had a manifesto.
Two cryptic movies had been posted on December 14 and December 7. One clip seems to point out a person committing suicide at a gun vary, and one other exhibits a montage of pictures displaying a masked man armed with a sword who killed two individuals in a 2015 incident at a faculty in Sweden.
WARNING: Graphic content material
The @Severd_Head X web page has equally disturbing posts and seems to echo among the potential hints left by the opposite account. The account’s bio reads, “In remembrance of Samantha Rupnow who was pushed to suicide by the worst individuals this world has to supply.”
The account additionally reposted @Postalbrained’s “OK” submit that got here moments earlier than the capturing occurred.
It is a growing story, and we’ll proceed to supply updates as new data turns into obtainable.
