MINNESOTA: A shooter fired through the windows of a church in Minnesota on Wednesday morning (local time), killing two children. Fourteen other children and three elderly parishioners were injured while marking the first week of class at Annunciation Catholic School, CNN reported.
The FBI identified the shooter, who is dead, as 23-year-old Robin Westman. The suspect graduated from the school in 2017, according to a yearbook, as quoted by CNN.
10-year-old witness describes the Minneapolis school church shooting:
“My friend Victor — he was like laying on top of me like making sure I was safe and he got hit. So that was really brave of him.” pic.twitter.com/3E8yNPZJnt
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 27, 2025
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Westman released a “manifesto” on YouTube that “included some disturbing writings”. The shooter took his own life behind the church and had no prior criminal history, police said. Police believe Westman acted alone in the attack.
They have since been taken down and investigators are reviewing the content to “try and develop motive”. FBI chief Kash Patel said the agency was investigating the attack as “an act of domestic terrorism and hate crimes targeting Catholics”, as per CNN.
Updates on the shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota:
The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.
There were 2 fatalities, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. In addition, 14 children and 3 adults were injured.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) August 27, 2025
President Donald J. Trump orders all flags of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on August 27 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/S9Q18udIwO
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 27, 2025
US First Lady Melania Trump highlighted the need to identify potential school shooters. She said that early warning signs “are often evident, with many individuals exhibiting concerning behaviors and making violent threats online prior to their actions”.
The tragic mass killing in Minnesota illuminates the need for pre-emptive intervention in identifying potential school shooters. Early warning signs are often evident, with many individuals exhibiting concerning behaviors and making violent threats online prior to their actions.…
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 28, 2025
We’re at the WH monitoring the situation in Minneapolis. Join all of us in praying for the victims!
— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 27, 2025
Our federal agents are on the scene of the horrific shooting at the Annunciation Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
My prayers are with everyone involved in this tragedy. Our team will provide updates as we receive them.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 27, 2025
‘The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!’ – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/hKudOz3AfA
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 27, 2025
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told CNN that the remaining victims are expected to survive and that some of the children have been released. “They had a range of injuries. One, I believe, was like a graze wound from a gunshot”, O’Hara said. “All the way to some very, very serious and life-threatening injuries that thankfully they are expected to survive from”.
Three firearms recovered from the crime scene had been legally purchased by the shooter, who had recently been issued a permit to purchase firearms, O’Hara told CNN. “I don’t have information about where specifically those weapons were purchased, but they were purchased lawfully,” O’Hara said.
In Minnesota, a permit is needed to purchase firearms and also to carry the firearms in public. The state doesn’t differentiate between open and concealed carry, as per CNN. (ANI)
