Tributes have been paid to the two victims killed in Monday’s shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, named as 42-year-old teacher Erin M. West and 14-year-old student Rubi P. Vergara.
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed their identities in a news release Wednesday evening, while the school said in a separate statement: “our hearts are heavy with these losses.”
The suspected shooter, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, a freshman at the school who was also known as Samantha, died Monday on the way to the hospital from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
“ALCS is a better training ground for Erin West’s work. She brought her love for Jesus and love for people to our staff and school family, all wrapped up in a hug and topped off with a smile,” the school statement said.
Erin West.
The school said West worked as a substitute teacher for three years before taking on a full-time staff role as an in-house substitute teacher and coordinator, “a role tailor-made for her abundant skills and breadth of knowledge.”
“She served our teachers and students with grace, humor, wisdom and, most importantly, with the love of Jesus. Her loss is painful and deep and she will be deeply missed, not only by our staff, but by our entire ALCS family,” the statement said.
Rubi Vergara, a 9th grade student, had attended the school since kindergarten and was described as a popular and enthusiastic volunteer.
“Her gentle, loving and kind heart was reflected in her smile. Rubi was a blessing to her class and to our school. She was not only a good friend, but also a very big sister,” the school said.
“She was often seen with a book in her hand and had a gift for art and music. Yet it was Rubi’s love for Jesus that shone brightest and she shared His love with others by faithfully volunteering. She will be greatly missed by her teachers and fellow students,” the statement said.
An online obituary uploaded to a local funeral home’s website said Vergara loved art, singing and playing keyboard in her family’s worship band. “She shared a special bond with her beloved pets, Ginger (cat) and Coco (dog),” the obituary said.
Rubi Patricia Vergara.
The funeral home said a service for Vergara would be held Saturday at 11 a.m. CST (12 p.m. ET) and streamed live online.
The police investigation into the shooting continues. Authorities said Wednesday evening that the two unidentified students who suffered life-threatening injuries remain at a local hospital, while the four people who were treated at the hospital for minor injuries sustained in the shooting have been released.
Police said the gunman opened fire in a second-floor classroom “during a coed study hall.”
Two guns were found at the school, but only one was used in the shooting, police said.
Police said they were working to establish a motive and were aware of the suspect’s alleged activities on social media and “documents and photographs circulating on the internet,” which have yet to be verified.
Detectives want to speak to anyone who had contact with Rupnow in the days or weeks before the shooting. They can contact police anonymously through Madison Area Crime Stoppers at p3tips.com or by calling 608-266-6014.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
