Days after a school shooting, police in California have detained a 20-year-old man they believe communicated with suspected Wisconsin school shooter Natalie Rupnow, 15. Alexander Paffendorf, 20, allegedly told FBI agents he had revealed his gun violence plans to Rupnow before her death. A San Diego Superior Court quickly ordered Paffendorf to surrender his guns via a restraining order after he reportedly made disturbing claims.
The police presence shocked neighbors, who never expected a connection to a shooting earlier this week at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison.
More from CafeMom: Man Posed as Parent of Prospective Student – Shot 2 Kindergartners & Himself During School Visit
Paffendorf allegedly communicated with Rupnow.
According to the Associated Press, which did not name Paffendorf, he allegedly told the FBI he had been messaging Rupnow about his own planned attack. He reportedly intended to target an unidentified government building with guns and explosives. The extent to which the pair might have been involved remains unclear.
A judge ordered Paffendorf to turn over his weapons.
Per the AP, a California judge issued a restraining order on December 17 under the state’s red flag law. The judge ordered Paffendorf to turn over all of his weaponry to police within 48 hours. Police detained Paffendorf, but it is unclear whether they arrested him. The Carlsbad Police Department told NBC 7, “There is no threat to the Carlsbad community at this time.”
The situation shocked neighbors.
NBC 7 reported that neighbors noticed a large police presence in the area but did not expect the connection between Paffendorf and Rupnow.
“You would never think that would happen,” Renee Foreman said. “And then being in your own neighborhood, across the street from your house. That’s not good. That’s scary.”
The medical examiner identified the victims of the Wisconsin school shooting.
Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, and Erin M. West, 42, died in the shooting. according to People. Her obituary noted that Vergara’s death devastated her family, who will miss her “deeply.”
“Rubi was a freshman at Abundant Life Christian School. She was an avid reader, loved art, singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band,” the obituary reads. “She shared a special bond with her beloved pets, Ginger (cat) and Coco (dog).”
Abundant Life Church School shared kind words about West in a statement obtained by Today shortly after her death. It reads in part, “ALCS is a better school for the work of Erin West. She brought her love of Jesus and love of people to our staff and school family, all wrapped in a hug and topped with a smile.
“She served our teachers and students with grace, humor, wisdom, and – most importantly – with the love of Jesus,” the school continued. “Her loss is a painful and deep one and she will be greatly missed not just among our staff, but our entire ALCS family.”
More from CafeMom: Georgia School Shooting Suspect’s Grandfather Says: ‘I Totally Blame the Father’
The motive behind the shooting remains a mystery.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said during a news conference shortly after the shooting that police had not yet uncovered a motive. “I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening.”
The shooting remains under investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact police.
