MINNEAPOLIS. A gunman opened fire on children and parishioners inside a Catholic church in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, killing two students and wounding 17 others before taking his own life, in what federal officials are investigating as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.
Police identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who arrived at Annunciation Catholic School armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, and fired dozens of rounds through stained-glass windows during a Mass marking the first week of classes. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the attack began shortly before 8:30 a.m. and ended when the assailant died by suicide at the rear of the church.
The victims included two children, aged 8 and 10, who died inside the church. Fourteen other students, ages 6 to 18, and three parishioners in their 80s were injured but are expected to recover, O’Hara said.
“The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” the police chief told reporters, adding that wooden planks had been used to barricade some side doors and that a smoke bomb was also found at the scene.
Videos and writings posted online before the attack suggested the suspect had struggled with depression, admired perpetrators of past mass shootings, and left erratic political messages scrawled on weapons. A YouTube channel linked to the suspect showed firearms and ammunition, some marked with phrases such as “Where is your God?” before the account was removed.
O’Hara said the suspect appeared to act alone and had no significant criminal history. Weapons were legally purchased in recent months, and additional firearms were recovered from locations linked to Westman.
The FBI and Homeland Security are investigating, with FBI Director Kash Patel calling it a domestic terrorism case. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the attack and warned against politicizing the suspect’s gender identity. Court records show Westman legally changed name from Robert to Robin in 2020, identifying as female.
“Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community, or any other community, has lost their sense of common humanity,” Frey said. He also cited the easy availability of firearms as a continuing driver of mass shootings in the United States.
Parents and students described scenes of chaos and heroism as children hid under pews or barricaded themselves in classrooms while older students and teachers shielded the younger ones. Fifth-grader Weston Halsne said a friend lying on top of him was struck by gunfire. “I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s okay,” the 10-year-old said.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and President Donald Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff in mourning. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, sent condolences from the Vatican, praying for the victims and their families. Local leaders, including U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, visited the scene, while Archbishop Gregory Hartmeyer of Atlanta called the killings “unspeakable” and urged passage of reasonable gun legislation.
Annunciation Catholic School, founded more than a century ago, enrolls nearly 400 students. The shooting took place during the traditional all-school Mass held at the start of each academic year.
“This violence has forever changed our children’s families and our city,” Mayor Frey said. “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.”
