Authorities have detained Alexander Paffendorf, a 20-year-old man from California, in connection with the tragic school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. Investigators believe Paffendorf may have collaborated with the shooter, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, in planning a series of violent attacks.
According to a gun violence restraining order issued by the Carlsbad Police Department, Paffendorf and Rupnow exchanged messages discussing simultaneous attacks. While Rupnow carried out the shooting at the Wisconsin school on Monday, Paffendorf allegedly intended to target a government building in California.
The restraining order revealed chilling details from an FBI interview in which Paffendorf admitted to telling Rupnow he planned to arm himself with explosives and firearms for his intended attack. However, the specific government building he allegedly targeted and the full content of the exchanged messages remain undisclosed.
The shooting at Abundant Life Christian School resulted in the deaths of 14-year-old Rubi Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin West, with six others injured. Rupnow, the perpetrator, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On Tuesday evening, hours after the Madison tragedy, a San Diego judge approved an emergency restraining order under California’s red flag gun law, requiring Paffendorf to surrender all firearms and ammunition within 48 hours. This law empowers authorities to restrict firearm access for individuals deemed a threat to public safety.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are investigating the alleged communications between Rupnow and Paffendorf to understand Rupnow’s motive and the extent of their collaboration. Authorities are reviewing digital evidence, including messages, to piece together the details of this potential coordinated plot.
The case underscores the critical role of red flag laws in preventing acts of violence and the challenges in addressing coordinated threats. The community continues to mourn the victims of the Madison shooting while law enforcement works to uncover more details about the planned attacks.
Further updates are expected as investigators gather additional evidence and analyze the suspect’s communications. The tragic events have reignited discussions on gun violence prevention and the need for stronger measures to address threats to public safety.