After the tragic school shooting in Wisconsin, authorities are leaving no stone unturned to uncover the horrifying details behind the attack.
On Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Alexander Paffendorf, a 20-year-old man from Carlsbad, California, for allegedly plotting a mass shooting with 15-year-old shooter Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow.
Earlier this week, Rupnow carried out a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison that left two innocent victims dead and six injured before she turned the gun on herself.
Now investigators are reconstructing a disturbing federal conspiracy that goes beyond the school tragedy. Here's what we know about the Paffendorf and its connections to Rupnow.
Had plans to attack a government building
Authorities announced that Alexander Paffendorf was arrested by the FBI after agents discovered he was “planning a mass shooting,” a court document said.
As reported by NBC7, Paffendorf admitted to communicating with 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow during an FBI investigation. He reportedly told her of his intentions to “arm himself with explosives and a gun” and “target a government building.”
While specific details of his conversations with Rupnow remain classified, it is said that the FBI “saw the messages from Paffendorf to Rupnow.”
A San Diego Superior Court judge then issued a temporary restraining order against Paffendorf under California's red flag gun law. The order required him to surrender all weapons and ammunition within 48 hours.
The police carried out the order in Paffendorf's apartment, where weapons were confiscated.
Although he was arrested, it remains unclear whether Paffendorf has been formally charged with any crimes. The two-page emergency order did not specify which government building he planned to target or the timing of the alleged attack.
A dramatic arrest
Neighbors reported a heavy police presence outside Paffendorf's apartment complex in Carlsbad, California, shortly after a judge signed the restraining order against him.
Accordingly CBS 8, Shortly after the order was approved, over a dozen police cars arrived at Paffendorf.
“They had full guns out all over the street,” said Alex Gallegos, a neighbor. “There were patrol cars. I would say there are about 15 police officers here.” Gallegos added that he saw officers carrying a large “black gun box” out of the apartment.
Despite the heavy police presence, Gallegos noted that he did not see any arrests. However, he observed officers high-fiving each other after the operation was completed.
Patricia Sousa, a neighbor who lives across the street, was shocked by the recent chaos the Washington Post She had never had contact with Paffendorf's family or noticed any unusual activity.
“It’s a quiet area and nothing ever happens,” Sousa said. “We are at a dead end. It’s a really quiet area.”
Another resident, Bradley Skall, said he heard police activity Tuesday night but decided not to investigate. Only later did he find out about Paffendorf's arrest.
“We’re all talking about him now,” Skall said. “We were all scared. For example, I have a dog and I walk him, and now I'm afraid to go outside.”
A spokesman for the FBI's San Diego field office said in a statement Thursday that he was “not aware of any ongoing threats related to this matter in Wisconsin or California.”
Meanwhile, a small, close-knit community halfway across the country in Wisconsin continues to grapple with a devastating school shooting.
On Wednesday, authorities identified the two victims as 14-year-old student Rubi P Vergara and 42-year-old Erin M West, who worked as a substitute teacher.
Of the six other students injured in the attack, two students are reportedly in critical condition with “life-threatening” injuries, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed earlier this week.
What we know about Natalie Rupnow
Investigators are currently investigating 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow's background to uncover the motive behind the tragic school shooting. They are also examining their online presence for clues that could explain what led to the devastating event.
So far, officials have determined that Rupnow had a deep fascination with neo-Nazi ideologies and former school shooters. One of the accounts linked to her showed a particular interest in pages that glorified perpetrators such as Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold and Nikolas Cruz.
Their writings and online activities reflected similar ideologies characterized by alienation, hatred of society, and the desire for recognition through violence.
The evidence includes an alleged shooting manifesto entitled “War on Humanity,” in which Rupnow expressed his resentment, dark reflections and threatening statements.
The document portrayed her attack as an act of revenge and liberation and blamed her suffering on societal norms and personal rejection. It showed her desire to gain control over a life she felt powerless and her determination to make her actions memorable.
Court documents also paint a picture of a “turbulent” family life. As reported by The Washington PostRupnow's parents divorced and remarried several times. She reportedly attended therapy throughout her youth.
The report also highlighted Rupnow's “troubled” childhood, as a custody agreement required her to change her parents' homes every two or three days. This constant upheaval likely increased their feelings of instability and alienation.
With input from agencies
