A tragic shooting incident occurred at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where a gunman opened fire during a Mass attended by children. The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, fired through the church windows, resulting in the deaths of two children, aged 8 and 10, and injuring 17 others, including 14 children and three elderly parishioners. The Minneapolis Police Chief, Brian O’Hara, described the event as “absolutely incomprehensible” and mentioned that the shooter died by suicide at the scene.
The attack is being investigated as a potential act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics, although no clear motive has been established yet. Authorities are examining a social media post linked to the shooter that contained disturbing content. The local community, including students and faculty, responded heroically during the incident, with older children and adults protecting the younger ones.
The shooting has deeply affected the Minneapolis community and has been met with condolences from figures such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Pope Leo XIV. This event is part of a troubling pattern of recent violence in the city, although the police do not believe it is connected to other recent shootings. Despite a general decrease in violent crime in Minneapolis since the pandemic, this incident highlights ongoing concerns about safety and violence in the area.
