California man detained on suspicion of ‘plotting’ with Wisconsin school shooter

MADISON, Wisconsin — Authorities have detained a California man on suspicion of “plotting a mass shooting” with the 15-year-old girl who opened fire in her small Christian school in Wisconsin this week, according to court records.

FBI agents detained and interviewed Alexander Paffendorf, 20, a resident of Carlsbad, late Tuesday, according to a court order obtained by The Washington Post. It said FBI agents had discovered Paffendorf was in contact with Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, who fatally shot two people at Abundant Life Christian School — and wounded six — on Monday before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Paffendorf was detained after being “discovered plotting a mass shooting” with the Wisconsin shooter, according to the court document.

“During an FBI interview, Paffendorf admitted … that he told Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun and that he would target a government building,” the court order states. “FBI agents saw the messages from Paffendorf to Rupnow.” The court action was first reported by CBS8.

Carlsbad police referred questions about Paffendorf and whether he was still being detained to the FBI.

The FBI said in a written statement that the investigation is being led by the Madison Police Department with the assistance of the FBI field offices in San Diego and Milwaukee, as well as the Carlsbad Police Department. “At this time, we are not aware of any ongoing threats associated with this matter in Wisconsin or California,” the FBI statement said.

The order, granted by the San Diego County Superior Court, requires Paffendorf to surrender all firearms, ammunition and magazines. It is unclear whether Paffendorf has an attorney, and The Post was unable to immediately reach him for comment.

Neighbors said they didn’t know Paffendorf well, if at all.

Patricia Sousa, who lives across the street, said she never interacted with his family or saw signs of trouble.

“It’s a quiet neighborhood, and nothing ever happens,” she said. “We’re on a cul-de-sac. It’s a real quiet area.”

Bradley Skall, another neighbor, said he heard police activity Tuesday night but did not go outside to investigate. He has since learned what happened and that the man detained lived across the street — although he does not recall ever meeting or speaking with Paffendorf. He said area residents are reeling from the news.

“We’re all talking about him now,” Skall said. “We’ve been scared, all of us. Like, I have a dog, and I walk my dog, and now I’m scared to go outside.”

Halfway across the country in Wisconsin, meanwhile, a small, close-knit community was struggling to process its losses. Officials late Wednesday identified those killed in the school shooting as Rubi P. Vergara, 14, and Erin M. West, 42. Of the six wounded — whose names have not been released — two students are facing “life-threatening” injuries, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said this week.

On Wednesday evening, about 75 people gathered at Lighthouse Church in Madison to pray for the family of a teen wounded in the shooting who attends their church. “He needs a miracle,” senior pastor Marcio Sierra Jr. told the congregants.

The Post is not naming the victim because police have not released his name and the family hasn’t spoken publicly.

For 45 minutes, congregants stood one by one to offer prayers, many of them in Spanish. Sierra provided real-time translations as those gathered listened with their eyes closed and heads bowed. Some cried, some raised their hands in praise, and one man held his head in his hands.

Those who approached the microphone quoted Bible verses, discussed their fears and emphasized their faith in God. They described the victim as a respectful young man who has always been quick to give hugs and handshakes at church.

Churchgoers closed the service by listening to a recording of “Made a Way” by gospel singer Travis Greene. With their hands in the air, they cheered as Greene sang about miracles and intoned, “My son is breathing, my son is living.”

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• Natanson reported from Washington. Marley and Blaskey reported from Madison. Chris Dehghanpoor, Alice Crites and Aaron Schaffer in Washington contributed.