Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes Emerges As The Voice Of Reason After Deadly School Shooting In Wisconsin

Source: Scott Olson / Getty

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes has become a guiding light and voice of reason in the wake of the tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Dec. 16. The shooting, which took place just days before winter break, claimed the lives of a teacher and a teenage student, with the suspected shooter—a female student—also dying, according to the Associated Press. The shooter has been identified as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha. She was pronounced dead while being transported to the hospital. 

During a press conference on Monday, Chief Barnes shared that the first report of the shooting came from a second-grade student, who called 911 at 10:57 a.m. “Let that sink in,” Chief Barnes said, repeating the phrase twice. He praised the swift response of law enforcement, noting that police arrived at the school just four minutes later. The shooting took place in a study hall, authorities confirmed. Rupnow was a student at Abundant Life Christian School, however, Chief Barnes and his team are still working to uncover a motive behind the travesty. 

At Monday’s press meeting, the Madison Police Chief reassured the community that every effort was being made to thoroughly investigate the shooting and to keep community members safe. The Madison Police Department is closely monitoring the school, and at this time, no one is allowed on the premises as the investigation remains ongoing.

He explained that detectives had spoken with the shooter’s family on Monday evening and conducted a search of her home in Madison as part of their inquiry into the motive behind the shooting. The chief also shared that they were in ongoing discussions with the shooter’s father at one of their facilities, where he is fully cooperating with the investigation.

“He lost someone as well. And so we’re not going to rush the information, we’ll take our time and certainly do our due diligence,” Chief Barnes said.

Mental health resources will be given to community members impacted.

At this time, Chief Barnes is urging the community to focus on supporting those affected by the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School, and to keep them in their prayers. Two students remain in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

“These children are now the latest group of survivors of a school shooting,” Barnes said. “This time, unfortunately, in Madison, Wisconsin.”

The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Office of School Safety and the Office of Crime Victim Services are also offering vital resources during this difficult time. Their Critical Incident Response Team program, created by both departments, is designed to reduce the psychological impact of a traumatic event at school and to provide ongoing mental health support long after the incident has passed.

“I don’t know how we can minimize what has happened today, but we’re going to do the best we can to provide services for all these children and staff.”

Source: Scott Olson / Getty

Who is Chief Shon Barnes?

Chief Shon Barnes is receiving widespread praise online for his swift and decisive response to the tragic incident at Abundant Life Christian School. His commitment to community-centered policing is a cornerstone of his leadership, as highlighted by the City of Madison Police Department. Barnes was appointed Chief of Police by the Police and Fire Commission (PFC) in February 2021.

“Stop asking why schools don’t have bullet proof glass and metal detectors at all the doors. Ask why schools have to. That’s the question that needs to be asked.”- Police Chief in Madison, WI

— Wajahat Ali (@wajali.bsky.social) 2024-12-16T22:49:07.955Z

A nationally recognized expert in crime reduction and improving community-police relations, Barnes has an extensive background in law enforcement. Prior to his current role, he served as the Director of Training and Professional Development for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability in Chicago, Illinois. He was also Deputy Chief of Police in Salisbury, North Carolina, from 2017 to 2020, and a Captain with the Greensboro Police Department, where he began his career as a patrol officer in 2000.

Barnes’ innovative approach to crime reduction earned him recognition as a LEADS Scholar by the National Institute of Justice. He is also a member of the National Police Foundation’s Council on Policing Reforms and Race, a nonpartisan initiative focused on using research and evidence to tackle key issues in police reform.

“Community Policing should be neighborhood oriented, community focused (business and residential), problem oriented, and based on the most current empirical research available to quickly reduce crime and improve citizens’ satisfaction with police services,” he said of his philosophy to effective policing, the City of Madison Police Department website notes. 

Throughout his career, Chief Barnes has championed Neighborhood-Oriented Policing, an approach that emphasizes tailored responses to smaller police beats, fostering a sense of ownership within neighborhoods, and prioritizing community engagement at all levels of the police force.

During an interview with CNN on Dec. 17, Chief Barnes revealed that his department is collaborating with the ATF to trace the origins of the handgun used in the shooting. He also mentioned that investigators are looking into the possibility of a manifesto being linked to the incident. He made it clear that he did not believe any 15-year-olds should “have access to weapons that they can bring to school and potentially hurt someone.”

Chief Barnes added, “We really have to do a better job, not only in our communities, but in our country, with making sure that our young folks do not have access to weapons and firearms, and certainly making sure that we’re paying attention to the mental health of our children, there’s a lot of work that we need to do so that we cannot be having these conversations again and again and again on CNN and other news outlets.”

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