A Southern California man who authorities say was in contact with the school shooter in Madison, Wisconsin, was allegedly plotting to target a government building, court documents show.
Alexander Paffendorf, 20, of Carlsbad, has been detained and ordered to surrender his guns and ammunition after a San Diego County Superior Court judge granted a “gun violence emergency protective order” against him, CBS 8 reported.
The restraining order means law enforcement can seize weapons from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others.
According to documents obtained by the network, the order states that Paffendorf had been messaging with alleged school shooter Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow.
The 15-year-old is believed to have killed a teacher and a student at Abundant Life Christian School on Monday before turning the weapon on herself. Six other people were also wounded, including two students who remain in critical condition.
“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,” the restraining order states.
After a judge signed the order, just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, local and federal authorities went to Paffendorf’s home to seize his weapons and ammunition.
Neighbors reported seeing multiple police cars entering the complex.
“They had their full guns out all over the street,” one neighbor told CBS 8. “There were cop cars. I’d say about 15 cops here.”
“There is no threat to the Carlsbad community at this time,” a police spokesperson told NBC San Diego Wednesday night.
The Madison Police Department in Wisconsin, which is leading the investigation, acknowledged in an online Q&A that “a person arrested in California” could be “potentially linked to this shooting,” but without directly commenting on Paffendorf.
