Gunman Kills Two Children in Minneapolis Church School Shooting

Two children aged 8 and 10 were killed.
Seventeen others, including 14 children, were injured.
The shooter, Robin Westman, died from a self-inflicted gunshot.
The attack occurred during a school Mass, highlighting targeted violence.

A horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during a morning Mass left two children dead and 17 injured. The assailant, clad in black, fired through church windows before taking their own life.

This tragedy has devastated the community and reignited national conversations about gun violence.

Gunman Kills Two Children in Minneapolis Church School Shooting

Shooting Details Emerge

The gunman, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, fired dozens of rounds through stained-glass windows into pews filled with children. Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the attacker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two doors were barricaded from the outside with wooden planks, suggesting premeditation.

“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.”
— Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara

Breaking: Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting Kills Two Children, Injures 17 🆘
A devastating shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis unfolded during a Wednesday morning Mass, where a gunman in his early 20s fired through church windows, killing two childrenan… pic.twitter.com/e9mHYT7KG2

— WATCHTOWER (@news_24_365) August 27, 2025

Victims and Heroic Acts

Among the victims were an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old who died at the scene. Fourteen of the 17 injured were children, with several in critical condition. Fifth-grader Weston Halsne recounted how his friend Victor shielded him from bullets, saving his life but being shot in the process.

“My friend Victor saved me though ’cause he laid on top of me, but he got hit.”
— Weston Halsne, a fifth-grade student

Suspect Identified and Motive Sought

Law enforcement identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who had limited criminal history. Online videos and writings referenced suicide, violent ideation, and apologies to their family. A sketch of a church layout was also found, indicating possible pre-surveillance.

“The details paint a picture of a plan that had been in the works for a long time with terrible, terrible intention.”
— CNN analyst John Miller

Community and National Response

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and President Donald Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff. Local sports teams and communities expressed grief, while hospitals treated victims amid an outpouring of support.