Man Detained in Connection to Wisconsin School Shooter’s Plot
Authorities in California have apprehended a 20-year-old man on suspicion of collaborating with a Wisconsin teen involved in a deadly shooting at a Christian school earlier this week.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, FBI agents arrested Alexander Paffendorf of Carlsbad, California, on Wednesday.
Using California’s “red flag” law, officials issued an emergency gun violence restraining order, which allowed them to detain Paffendorf and confiscate his firearms.
The order alleged that Paffendorf had been “plotting” with 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow. On Monday, Rupnow shot and killed a student and a teacher at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, before taking her own life.
BREAKING: ALEXANDER PAFFENDORF AGE 20 OF CARLSBAD CALIFORNIA WAS TALKING TO MADISON WI SHOOTER ABOUT PLOTTING HIS OWN ATTACK ON GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. pic.twitter.com/QXuakuP0e1
— Chaos Alerts (@ChaosAlertsOnX) December 19, 2024
The school shooting left six others injured.
Although specific details of the alleged plan remain unclear, investigators revealed that a potential attack on a government building had been discussed.
“During an FBI interview, Paffendorf admitted to the FBI agents that he told Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun and that he would target a government building,” the restraining order stated, as reported by KFMB-TV.
The document did not specify the building’s location or provide additional details about the plan.
FBI investigators confirmed that they “saw the messages from Paffendorf to Rupnow,” according to the order.
While Paffendorf has not been formally charged with a criminal offense, the restraining order—which led to his detention and the confiscation of his firearms—was issued as a civil measure.
#BREAKING : Madison Christian School shooter Natalie Rupnow was in contact with a man who was ALSO plotting to carry out mass shooting at a Goverment building.
— BLOODYRED (@trumpestfuture) December 19, 2024
He had been messaging #Wisconsin shooter #NatalieRupnow about attacking a gov building with a gun and explosives. pic.twitter.com/iWWJ3sHtn2
Police executed the order shortly after it was approved Tuesday evening, swarming Paffendorf’s residence.
“They had their full guns out all over the street,” said Alex Gallegos, a neighbor. “There were cop cars. I’d say about 15 cops here.”
Gallegos added that officers carried out a “black gun box” from the home.
“I saw them carrying out the big box,” Gallegos explained. “I didn’t see them arrest anybody, but they gave high-fives as it came to an end.”
Reflecting on the event, Gallegos said, “It sounds pretty wild and scary that this could happen so close to home.”