FBI agents have detained 20-year-old Alexander Paffendorf for allegedly conspiring with Madison, Wisconsin school shooter Samantha Rupnow in planning a coordinated mass attack.
The apprehension comes in the wake of the tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School that resulted in the deaths of a student and a teacher, and injuries to six others before she took her own life.
According to a gun violence restraining order obtained by CBS 8, Paffendorf had been in contact with Rupnow, sharing plans to target a government building using explosives and firearms.
FBI agents reportedly intercepted incriminating messages between the two, leading to Paffendorf’s detainment and the seizure of firearms from his residence.
The restraining order, signed by a San Diego Superior Court judge late Tuesday evening, details how Paffendorf confessed to FBI agents during an interview.
During an interview with FBI agents, Paffendorf reportedly admitted to plotting the attack, stating that he had discussed arming himself with explosives and targeting a government building.
The restraining order detailed the agents’ findings, noting that Paffendorf’s messages confirmed his intent to act in tandem with Rupnow’s violent attack in Madison.
More from CBS:
A San Diego Superior Court Judge approved the restraining order on Tuesday, December 17, at 8:51 p.m.
Not long after the judge signed the order, Paffendorf’s Carlsbad neighbors saw more than a dozen police cars enter the complex.
“They had their full guns out all over the street,” neighbor Alex Gallegos told CBS 8. “There were cop cars. I’d say about 15 cops here.”
Gallegos then saw police carrying out what he described as a “black gun box.”
“I saw them carrying out the big box,” Gallegos said. “I didn’t see them arrest anybody, but they gave high-fives as it came to an end.”
Gallegos added, “It sounds pretty wild and scary that this could happen so close to home.”
Jordan Conradson of The Gateway Pundit previously reported authorities are actively investigating the circumstances leading up to the shooting. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes acknowledged awareness of a manifesto allegedly linked to Rupnow circulating online but has not confirmed its authenticity.
Now-confirmed X posts identified the gunman as Samantha Rupnow.
Many online have claimed that the individual went by @Postalbrained on X and posted a manifesto on a private Google Drive link. The Gateway Pundit was unable to access the link because it was restricted.
It is also believed that the owner of the @Severd_Head account was in a relationship with the alleged shooter. It remains unclear whether this account belonged to Alexander Paffendorf. At this time, this information is purely speculative.
Both accounts were available for anybody to view but have since been restricted to followers only.
Post Millenial reporter Andy Ngo said on X Monday night, “I can report that the deceased mass shooter at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisc. is a 15-year-old girl named Natalie Lynn Rupnow,” according to a source. He further confirmed that the @Postalbrained X account is likely her.
X has censored my thread due to the sensitive details contained in the reporting. One must be at least 18 and logged in to view the content.
New details: The Abundant Life Christian School mass shooting occurred in the study hall on the second floor of the campus, not the… pic.twitter.com/1aNrBiYC3q
— Andy Ngo ️ (@MrAndyNgo) December 17, 2024
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said they have not verified that the manifesto is authentic. “We’re certainly aware that it’s been posted, and the person who posted it alleged to have a connection with the victim,” he said. Police have not located the creators of the social media pages.
On the social media page, archived here, that is speculated to belong to the shooter, cryptic posts days and moments before the shooting occurred, shortly before 11 am CT, appear to lend credibility to the claims. However, it is still unconfirmed whether or not the account belongs to Natalie Rupnow.
At approximately 11:50 am ET, around when the shooting is believed to have started, the account posted a hand making the “OK” sign from inside of a restroom. In a post below the image, a link to a private Google Drive was published, causing many to speculate that the shooter had a manifesto.
Two cryptic videos were posted on December 14 and December 7. One clip appears to show an individual committing suicide at a gun range, and another shows a montage of images showing a masked man armed with a sword who killed two people in a 2015 incident at a school in Sweden.
WARNING: Graphic content
The @Severd_Head X page has equally disturbing posts and appears to echo some of the potential hints left by the other account. The account’s bio reads, “In remembrance of Samantha Rupnow who was driven to suicide by the worst people this world has to offer.”
The account also reposted @Postalbrained’s “OK” post that came moments before the shooting occurred.
This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
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