After the shooting at annunciation church in minneapolis, minnesota (D) tim walz talked to the media

In a chilling act of violence that shattered the sanctity of a place of worship and learning, two young children were killed and 17 others injured when a shooter opened fire during a morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The attack, described by authorities as a "deliberate act of cruelty beyond comprehension," unfolded just days into the new school year, leaving families, the community, and the nation grappling with profound grief and outrage.

The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman—a former student at the school—fired dozens of rounds through the stained-glass windows of the church sanctuary before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an inquiry into the incident as both an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics, with early evidence pointing to a manifesto posted online that revealed deep-seated grievances.

The shooting began shortly before 8:30 a.m. local time at Annunciation Church, an integral part of the Catholic school serving students from preschool through eighth grade in south Minneapolis. Children and parishioners had gathered for a special Mass to celebrate the start of the school year, themed "A Future Filled with Hope," drawing from a biblical verse emphasizing welfare and optimism.

Witnesses described a scene of sudden chaos. Ten-year-old Weston Halsne, a fifth-grader seated near the windows, recounted hearing the first shots and mistaking them for something innocuous. "It was like right beside me … I think I got gunpowder on my neck," he told reporters. "The first one, I was like, ‘What is that?’ and then I heard it again and I just ran under the pew." His friend, Victor, heroically shielded him but was struck in the back. "He’s really brave, and I hope he’s good in the hospital," Weston added.