The father of American school shooter Natalie Rupnow posted a chilling image months before the tragedy, appearing to show his daughter at a shooting range.
The girl was seen wearing an unsettling black T-shirt similar to one worn by the Columbine school shooters. The top bore the logo of the German industrial band KMFDM, which gained infamy after the 1999 massacre that claimed 13 lives. In the August Facebook post, Jeff Rupnow shared a photo of his daughter aiming a shotgun at clay targets.
He referenced their membership at North Bristol Sportsman’s Club, a local shooting range near Madison, Wisconsin. The post, which seemed innocent then, has since drawn scrutiny, given its similarities to Columbine’s chilling prelude. Other images of Rupnow have also emerged from her dad’s social media, including one showing her cuddling a dog while sitting in a pile of leaves.
Rupnow, who also went by the name Samantha, carried out the attack on Monday at the Abundant Life Christian School, where she shot and killed a teacher and a fellow student with a 9mm handgun. Six others were injured in the rampage before the 15-year-old turned the gun on herself.
Police have yet to determine a motive but are investigating a manifesto reportedly written by Rupnow, which has been circulating online. The existence and content of the document could provide further insight into her state of mind leading up to the shooting.