Who is Alexander Paffendorf? California man comes under scrutiny for reportedly conspiring with Wisconsin shooter Natalie Rupnow
Alexander Paffendorf, a new name has emerged in the investigation of a mass shooting that occurred at a Wisconsin school on December 16. As per NPR’s December 19 report, Paffendorf is currently in custody on suspicion of plotting with Natalie Rupnow, the Wisconsin shooter.
In relation to the fatal assault at the Abundant Life Christian School, Paffendorf is suspected of planning to carry out a mass shooting.
Not much is known about Alexander Paffendorf, other than the fact that he is 20 years old and from Carlsbad, California. He further confessed to the FBI about his relationship with Rupnow. According to the same NPR report, the Carlsbad Police Department said:
“FBI agents stopped and detained Alexander Paffendorf after he was discovered plotting a mass shooting with the Madison Wisconsin shooter, Natalie 'Samantha' Rupnow.”
They further said about Alexander Paffendorf:
“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. FBI agents saw the messages from Paffendorf to Rupnow," the order reads.
This happened after a school shooting took place at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on December 16, 2024. It was later revealed by the authorities that six people were injured and two individuals died. Rupnow then shot herself and died.
More information about the Wisconsin shooting as Alexander Paffendorf has reportedly kept a low online profile
According to the 6 ABC's December 20 story, reports suggested that the ABC7 I-Team has received law enforcement papers that claim Alexander Paffendorf and Rupnow conspired to plan a mass massacre at a government building. But, the building that Paffendorf intended to target was not disclosed.
Nevertheless, it further added that they have reportedly been exchanging messages as well. The Mail also stated on December 20 that the court documents released on Wednesday, December 18 claimed that Paffendorf had allegedly confessed to the authorities about communicating with Rupnow regarding explosives and an armed assault on a government facility.
However, details of their interactions have not been made public as of yet. The source further stated that Paffendorf was the subject of a restraining order granted by a San Diego judge on Tuesday, December 17 under California's gun red flag statute.
This required him to turn over any guns and ammunition to the police within 48 hours and forbade him from obtaining any more.
Meanwhile, authorities are still looking into the reason why the 15-year-old girl shot and killed a classmate and teacher before shooting herself. On the other hand, neighbors later reported to CBS 8 that on Tuesday night, December 17, they saw over a dozen police cars pull into the apartment building where Paffendorf resides.
According to the address records, Alexander Paffendorf seemed to live at the property with his father. The Mail further claimed that it appears that the 20-year-old has kept a low profile online since they couldn't uncover any social media profiles linked to Paffendorf’s name.
Additionally, according to a Facebook post from an account purportedly associated with his father, he is very "touchy about getting his photo taken.”
Alexander Paffendorf’s name came to the limelight after Madison Police Department authorities announced the shooting and the names of the victims. The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office identified the two victims on December 16, 2024, as a 14-year-old student Rubi Vergara, and 42-year-old DeForest instructor Erin West.
On the other hand, two of the six injured were critically ill. The ages and genders of the injured people were not disclosed by Chief of Police Shon F. Barnes. According to SSM Health St. Hospital spokesperson Lisa Adams, they treated four of the shooting victims.
Later, two of the injured patients were released from the hospital. The conditions of the other two patients were stable, but they were still in the hospital as of December 19.
Meanwhile, how Paffendorf knew Rupnow is not yet clear. Barnes told the Journal Sentinel that he had no knowledge of the California arrest and sent inquiries to the FBI. The court hearing for Paffendorf, however, is set for January 3.