A community is in mourning after a horrific act of gun violence claimed the lives of two young children and wounded 17 others during a Catholic Mass in south Minneapolis. The shooting occurred at Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday morning as nearly 200 students gathered for their first week of school prayers. The attacker, identified as a former student, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Authorities and community leaders are grappling with the immense grief and shock of an attack that left a community shattered and a nation once again questioning the state of its gun violence epidemic.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the attacker approached the church from the side, armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol. He fired over 100 rounds through the stained-glass windows, striking children and parishioners who were seated in the pews. The two children killed were an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. Of the 17 wounded, 14 were students between the ages of 6 and 15, and three were parishioners in their 80s. While some victims were initially in critical condition, authorities have stated that all are expected to survive.
The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, a 23-year-old from suburban Minneapolis who once attended the school. The FBI has launched a full-scale investigation, treating the attack as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics. While the official motive remains under investigation, police have found evidence of a planned attack in videos and writings linked to the suspect. The writings reference other mass shooters, describe suicidal thoughts, and include anti-Semitic and anti-government slogans scrawled on the weapons.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community and officials have come together to express grief and outrage. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged politicians to move beyond “thoughts and prayers,” stating, “These children were literally praying. It was the first week of school… We need action now.” The mayor and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have ordered flags to be flown at half-staff. Meanwhile, the community has rallied to support the victims and their families, with impromptu vigils and prayer services held across the city to honor those who were lost and wounded.
