Minneapolis is reeling after a devastating school shooting left two children dead and 17 others injured during a Mass at Annunciation Catholic School earlier this week.
The tragedy unfolded around 8:30 a.m., when 23-year-old Robin Westman, a former student of the school, opened fire from outside the church, shooting through the windows where students and parishioners were gathered for the first day of school service.
Authorities confirmed that the two victims killed were 8 and 10 years old. Among the wounded are 14 children ranging in age from 6 to 15, along with three elderly adults. Several of the young victims remain in critical condition, with some undergoing emergency surgeries.
Westman, who died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol; all of which were legally purchased. Investigators say the suspect had no prior criminal history.
But in the days before the attack, Westman uploaded disturbing videos and a lengthy manifesto online, praising past mass shooters and sharing anti-Catholic and extremist views. Some of these posts were scheduled to go live during the shooting itself.
Law enforcement officials are treating the case as both domestic terrorism and a hate crime. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that investigators are analyzing Westman’s writings and digital footprint to uncover a full picture of their motives.
The community has been left shattered. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the act “evil,” noting the heartbreaking irony that the victims were literally praying when violence struck. Governor Tim Walz, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Trump also expressed condolences. Federal flags have been ordered to half-staff, and even the Pope has sent a message of support to grieving families.
For many, the most painful detail is that Westman once walked the very same halls as the children now left traumatized. What was once a safe haven has now been turned into the latest site of America’s ongoing gun violence crisis.
