Teacher killed in Wisconsin school shooting graduated from KSU, local high school
ERIN WEST (CREDIT: Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care)
KENNESAW, Ga. - The teacher killed during the recent mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, has a metro Atlanta connection.
Erin M. West, 42, graduated from Kennesaw State University. She reportedly received a degree in early childhood education in 2005. The school sent the following statement to FOX 5 Atlanta:
Abundant Life Christian School also released a statement about West:
According to the school, West worked at ALCS for three years as a substitute teacher before taking a full-time staff role as an in-house substitute and coordinator.
Before attending KSU and becoming a teacher, West graduated from Harrison High School in Kennesaw in 2000. According to her obituary, she married Jack West in 2005 in Powder Springs. West was also a mother to three daughters named Emery, Laurel and Adleigh. Her funeral service is being held at her church in Madison.
West, along with 14-year-old Rubi P. Vergara, was pronounced dead at the scene after the suspected shooter, 15-year-old Natalie "Samanth" L. Rupnow, opened fire inside the school earlier this week.
Their names were released late Wednesday by the Dane County Medical Examiner.
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Six other people were also injured during the shooting, and two students with life-threatening injuries remain in the hospital.
Four others — three students and a teacher — have been released.