MADISON, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 17: Crime scene tape continues to be stretched around Abundant Life Christian School as police continue to investigate yesterday’s shooting on December 17, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. Multiple people were shot and at least three have died after a teenage girl, who was a student at the school, opened fire inside the school. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
A 20-year-old Carlsbad, California, man has been ordered to surrender his guns after authorities said he communicated with the teenage girl suspected of committing a fatal school shooting in Wisconsin, allegedly expressing his own plans to carry out a deadly attack against a government building.
Police and FBI agents went to the home of Alexander Paffendorf on Tuesday night to seize his guns and ammunition after a San Diego Superior Court judge approved a gun violence restraining order, according to documents obtained by NBC 7.
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The restraining order said, in part: "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."
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Paffendorf was detained, but it was not clear if he was arrested.
The Carlsbad Police Department told NBC 7 on Wednesday night that "there is no threat to the Carlsbad community at this time." A spokesperson added that the investigation is being led by the Madison Police Department in Wisconsin.
The FBI's San Diego office declined to comment.
Neighbors say they saw a large police presence in the area on Tuesday, but they never imagined it would have a connection to the shooting in Wisconsin.
"You would never think that would happen," Carlsbad resident Renee Foreman said. "And then being in your own neighborhood, across the street from your house. That's not good. That's scary."
On Monday, 15-year-old Natalie "Samantha" Rupnow allegedly fatally shot a teacher and a student and wounded six other people at Abundant Life Christian School, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Rupnow was later found dead at the scene with what were believed to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
