The family of a teenager killed in the horrific shooting at Abundant Life Christian School has publicly expressed their forgiveness towards the gunwoman, Natalie Rupnow.
The deadly school shooting unfolded at around 11:00AM on Monday (December 16) morning at the private school in Madison, leaving two dead and six injured, including four students.
According to PEOPLE, the victims of the heartbreaking attack were 42-year-old Erin M. West and 14-year-old Rubi Patricia Vergara.
Both died due to “homicidal firearm-related trauma,” per preliminary autopsy results shared by The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Police have also identified Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow as the perpetrator. The 15-year-old was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived and died en route to the hospital.
In Rubi’s obituary, the teenager was described by loved ones as a vibrant young woman who was an “avid reader, loved art, singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band”.
She was also a talented keyboard player in her family’s worship band and had a deep connection with her cat and dog.
The freshman’s funeral was held at City Church on Saturday (December 21). Her grieving family revealed at the gathering that they had forgiven Rupnow and her family.
“We hold no bitterness or unforgiveness towards 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow and her family. They lost a daughter too,” Andy Remus, Vergara’s uncle, said, per The New York Post. “Somehow, this precious child of God lost her way.”
To honor the late teen’s memory, the family chooses to focus on her joyful attitude rather than dwelling on the tragic circumstances of her passing.
“We need to just breathe. We love to laugh, at any point in the service, if something is funny that’s said about a memory of Ruby laugh… If this is truly a celebration of life, then let’s do it right,” Remus continued. “We need to snap out of this fog that we’ve been in for the last five days.”
Hundreds of people attended the 14-year-old victim’s funeral inside the large church, and hundreds of others tuned in on a live stream.
“She would probably be horrified to see this many people in the church just for her,” Jen, a longtime friend of the family, told the crowd.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
