A Florida man who was arrested on multiple charges accusing him of planning a mass shooting was messaging Abundant Life Christian School shooter Natalie Samantha Rupnow before her death, according to court documents.
Damien Blade Allen, 22, on Tuesday was arrested in Palm Beach County, charged with threatening a mass shooting, along with unlawful use of a two-way communication device and a badge, authorities said.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and FBI agents raided Allen’s Loxahatchee home and found 18 firearms, officials announced at a press briefing on Wednesday. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Allen was planning attacks at churches for racial reasons, in addition to attacks on law enforcement officers.
Why It Matters
Allen communicated with Rupnow in May, June, July and September last year, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Three people, including 15-year-old Rupnow, were killed and six others were injured in a December 2024 shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. Law enforcement identified Rupnow as the assailant.
What To Know
The FBI received a tip on April 25 that an individual, later identified as Allen, was possibly planning an attack, according to the affidavit.
Authorities said Allen threatened to conduct mass shootings at seven different unnamed sites in statements posted online.
Rupnow, who utilized username “targetedbloodsport,” and Allen, whose handle was “Senpai_Kiro,” communicated via direct message on TikTok, the affidavit states.
“I got AR500 steel plates, At level 4 helmet, And IFAK kits, My loadout is set up for war,” Allen messaged Rupnow on May 23, 2024, according to court documents.
AR500 steel plates are bulletproof vests, a level 4 helmet is also bulletproof and IFAK is an acronym for “individual first aid kits.”
Rupnow told Allen that she had two of her father’s 9-millimeter handguns, according to authorities.
“We go down together,” Allen told Rupnow on June 7, 2024, and Rupnow messaged Allen, “I love you,” to which he replied, “I love you more,” per the court affidavit.
The two also discussed tactical outfits, mass shooters and various other topics in the messages included in the document.
Authorities also said that Allen had an “authentic” sheriff’s office uniform with a badge and gun belt, along with a Ford Crown Victoria—a vehicle typically used by law enforcement—with what appears to be a sheriff’s office laptop.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Captain Randy Foley said officials are investigating how Allen obtained the gear and vehicle.
What People Are Saying
Bradshaw, at a press briefing: “This guy was ready to go, had all the equipment, had the propensity to do it. It was a just a matter of what day was going to set him off to go do it.”
What Happens Next
Allen is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial detention hearing on Monday.
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