A tragic school shooting in Minneapolis has left two young children dead and 17 others injured. The FBI has confirmed it is investigating the attack as a possible anti-Catholic hate crime and act of domestic terrorism.
The Attack on Annunciation Church
The horrific incident took place on Wednesday morning at the Annunciation Church and School, located in a residential neighbourhood of southern Minneapolis.
Children aged 8 and 10 lost their lives when an attacker fired through the church windows during morning Mass.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities say Westman used three different firearms – a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol – during the attack.
Police also recovered a smoke bomb at the scene, raising fears of a wider planned assault.
Local police are still working to confirm whether Westman fired only from outside the building or also entered the premises. No bullet casings were found inside the church.
Witness Accounts: “Boom, Boom, Boom”
Residents nearby described the terrifying sounds of the attack.
“I could hear boom, boom, boom,” said PJ Mudd, who lives close to the church and rushed to the scene after realising it was a shooting.
One 10-year-old survivor shared his harrowing experience with CBS affiliate WCCO. He revealed how his friend saved his life by shielding him from gunfire:
“I was like two seats away from the stained glass window. My friend, Victor, saved me because he laid on top of me, but he got hit.”
The boy added that Victor was rushed to hospital with a back injury but is now recovering.
FBI Labels It Hate Crime Against Catholics
The FBI has formally classified the case as both a hate crime and domestic terrorism, with suspicions the attacker deliberately targeted the Catholic community.
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the assault, calling it a “deliberate act of violence against innocent children and worshippers.” He added that the “sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is incomprehensible.”
Links to the School
Investigators are now piecing together Westman’s possible motives.
His mother, Mary Grace Westman, worked at the school until her retirement in 2021, according to old newsletters.
Police discovered that Westman had scheduled an online post to go live at the same time as the shooting. Authorities removed the post immediately and are reviewing its contents.
Global and National Reactions
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation and sorrow:
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, expressed he was “profoundly saddened” by the deaths of the children.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed that President Donald Trump had called to offer condolences and support. He also described the tragedy as something that has become “all too common, not just in Minnesota, but across the country.”
President Trump later announced that the US flag would be flown at half-mast at the White House in honour of the victims.
What Happens Next
The investigation remains ongoing, with police and federal agencies working together to uncover the shooter’s full intentions and possible connections to extremist groups.
Authorities have not yet released a clear motive, but the evidence so far suggests a planned and targeted attack on the Catholic community.
A Community in Mourning
The Annunciation Church and School, which teaches children aged 5 to 14, is now the centre of grief and healing efforts. Community members are gathering in prayer vigils to honour the victims, support the injured, and stand in solidarity against hatred and violence.
This tragedy is yet another reminder of the urgent debate on gun violence and religious intolerance in the United States.
Sources: FBI statements, Minneapolis Police Department, CBS affiliate WCCO, Wall Street Journal, official comments from Governor Tim Walz and Pope Leo XIV.
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