A peaceful morning of prayer at a Catholic school in Minneapolis was shattered by a horrific act of gun violence, leaving two children dead and 17 people wounded. A former student, armed with three pistols, opened fire through the church’s stained-glass windows as a school mass was underway, turning a routine event into a scene of unimaginable chaos and terror. The shooter, identified by authorities as Robin Westman, a 23-year-old, ended the rampage by taking his own life inside the church.
The brutal attack unfolded during the annual first-day-of-school mass at Annunciation Catholic School. The chief of police, Brian O’Hara, described the chilling scene as parishioners and older students desperately took cover behind pews, with some courageously running to shield younger children from the hail of bullets. Adding to the horror, at least two of the church's exits were found barricaded, trapping many inside. The two young victims, aged 8 and 10, were killed as they sat during the service.
Of the 17 wounded, 14 were students ranging from 6 to 18 years old, and three were parishioners in their 80s. While all are expected to recover, their physical and emotional scars will last a lifetime. In a poignant testament to the bravery on display, a fifth-grade student, Weston Halsne, told CBS News that his friend was hurt while trying to protect him. "The shots were right next to me," Halsne recalled. "I think gunpowder got on my neck."
Investigation and a Controversial Motive
The FBI has joined the investigation, classifying the attack as a potential act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics. Authorities have so far declined to offer a clear motive, but early evidence from Westman's online videos and a suicide note offers a glimpse into a troubled mind. The documents reveal a struggle with depression and a disturbing fascination with previous mass shooters, whose names were found scrawled on a rifle magazine.
The tragedy has quickly become entangled in a broader political conversation. The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristie Noem, released a statement noting that the suspect "claimed to be transgender" and called the attack an act by a "deranged monster" targeting the "most vulnerable." However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey swiftly pushed back on the comments, urging the public not to use the tragedy to demonize any community. "Anyone using this as an opportunity to demonize our trans community, or any other community, has lost their sense of common humanity," Frey stated, also emphasizing that the easy availability of firearms remains a primary factor in mass shootings. All three guns used by Westman were legally and recently acquired.
The attack on Annunciation Catholic School marks the 146th incident of gun violence at a primary or secondary school this year, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. The fact that the gunman shot from outside the building sets this tragedy apart from most other school shootings. Despite having no criminal record, Westman's connection to the school—his mother had worked there as an administrative assistant—adds another layer of tragedy to the event. In a sign of national mourning, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff.
The community of Minneapolis is grieving a senseless and brutal loss. While the investigation continues, the attack serves as a chilling reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence and the complex issues of mental health and social division that plague the nation.
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