Two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed and 17 others injured when a gunman opened fire through the windows of Annunciation Church in Minneapolis during Mass, police said. The church, which also houses a school, was filled with students at the time. Of the 17 injured, 14 are children, all of whom are expected to survive.
Authorities identified the attacker as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot at the scene. Police confirmed he had no significant criminal history.
“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said, describing the act as incomprehensibly cruel and cowardly.
The motive remains unclear, though the FBI is investigating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.
The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. local time Wednesday, when Westman approached the side of the building and fired dozens of rounds through the church windows using a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol. Authorities also discovered a smoke bomb at the scene. Officials are determining whether any shots were fired from inside the church.
Eyewitness P.J. Mudd, who lives nearby, told the Wall Street Journal that he initially mistook the gunfire for loud noises before realizing a shooting was taking place.
A 10-year-old survivor recounted how a friend protected him from the bullets, taking a hit in the process. “My friend got hit in the back… I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s okay,” the boy said.
The school serves students aged 5 to 14. The attacker’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, had previously worked at the school, retiring in 2021. Authorities also recovered a note the suspect had scheduled to publish online, which the FBI removed.
Governor Tim Walz said President Donald Trump expressed condolences and offered federal assistance. He added, “This situation is all too common—not just in Minnesota, but across the country.” Trump later announced that the U.S. flag would fly at half-mast at the White House in honor of the victims.
