Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting Leaves Two Children Dead, 17 Injured Before Gunman Kills Himself
- Victor Nwoko
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
A tragic mass shooting unfolded Wednesday morning during Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, leaving two children dead, 17 others injured, and the suspected gunman dead by suicide. Authorities confirmed that 14 of the injured were children between the ages of 6 and 15, while three injured adults were parishioners in their 80s. Officials said all the wounded are expected to survive.
Police identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who had no prior criminal history and is believed to have acted alone. Westman was armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, and fired from outside the church through windows at children sitting in pews. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called it a “deliberate act of violence against innocent children,” describing the attack as “sheer cruelty and cowardice.” The suspect fatally shot himself behind the church.
The incident occurred just days after the school year began, with students gathered for their first week of Mass. O’Hara confirmed that dozens of officers responded, many of whom were deeply shaken by the traumatic scene. Police also discovered a smoke bomb at the site but found no explosives.
Authorities are reviewing disturbing online material linked to Westman. A YouTube channel titled “Robin W” hosted pre-scheduled videos showing the suspect displaying weapons marked with phrases like “kill Donald Trump” and “Where is your God?” along with writings in Cyrillic. Other videos showed journals containing weapon-themed stickers and what appeared to be a detailed drawing of the church’s layout, which the shooter stabbed with a knife. Police said these videos were taken down but remain under active review.
Parents and survivors described harrowing scenes. Eleven-year-old Chloe Francoual survived by running downstairs and barricading herself in a room. Her father, Vincent Francoual, said she thought she was going to die and felt guilt for leaving a classmate behind while fleeing. Other children reportedly had to step over bodies to escape. Witnesses said the church, a place of worship and community since 1923, was turned into a site of unimaginable horror.
Officials across Minnesota and beyond expressed grief. Governor Tim Walz called the shooting “horrific” and said, “Minnesotans will not step away. We’re standing with this community.” He ordered U.S. and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff, urging individuals and businesses to do the same. Mayor Jacob Frey said, “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”
President Donald Trump ordered all federal buildings to lower flags to half-staff until sunset on Sunday in honor of the victims. The White House confirmed he spoke directly with Gov. Walz following the attack. Neighboring North Dakota also lowered flags, with Gov. Kelly Armstrong calling the shooting an “unspeakable act of violence.”
The Vatican issued condolences through Pope Leo XIV, who called the massacre a “terrible tragedy” and said he was “profoundly saddened” by the deaths of children during Mass. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also urged prayers and healing for the Annunciation Catholic School community. Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis said, “My heart is broken as I think about students, teachers, clergy and parishioners and the horror they witnessed in a Church, a place where we should feel safe.”
Doctors at Hennepin Healthcare and Children’s Minnesota said more than a dozen children, ages 6 through 16, were treated for injuries ranging from critical gunshot wounds to minor trauma. Dr. Thomas Wyatt of Hennepin Healthcare confirmed that four victims required immediate surgery.
The FBI confirmed it is investigating the case as domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics. O’Hara emphasized that while the suspect is dead, the investigation is focused on understanding his motives through the journals, videos, and writings left behind.
Residents of Minneapolis described the tragedy as deeply unsettling. Longtime parishioner Bill Bienemann, who lives nearby, said he heard as many as 50 shots over several minutes, initially thinking it was impossible to be gunfire. His daughter, Alexandra, who graduated from Annunciation Catholic School, said the attack left her “shaking and crying,” adding, “It doesn’t make me feel safe at all in this community that I have been in for so long.”
The Minneapolis shooting comes just one day after multiple shootings across the city and two months after the murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, highlighting a surge of gun violence in the state.
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