The Minneapolis Catholic school shooting that left two children dead and 17 others injured is now being investigated by the FBI as an anti-Catholic hate crime. The tragedy struck on Wednesday morning at Annunciation Church, where pupils were attending Mass to mark the start of the school term.
The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire through the church windows with three weapons—a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol—before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A smoke bomb was also found at the scene. Police are working to determine whether Westman fired exclusively from outside the building.
Victims and Witnesses
Two children, aged eight and ten, were killed in the attack. Mourners have since gathered at the church, leaving flowers and tributes. A survivor described how his friend shielded him from bullets by lying on top of him, taking a shot to the back but surviving. Another witness recalled helping a young girl with a head wound flee the building, as terrified children ran for safety.
Reactions from Leaders
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is treating the case as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the act as “sheer cruelty and cowardice,” while Mayor Jacob Frey urged people not to direct hatred toward the transgender community after details emerged about the suspect’s gender identity.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, expressed deep sorrow, calling the attack “profoundly saddening.” President Donald Trump extended condolences through Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who described the incident as part of a tragic pattern of mass shootings across the US. The White House ordered the national flag flown at half-mast in tribute to the victims.
Background on the Attacker
Westman’s mother, who previously worked at the school, retired in 2021. Investigators revealed that Westman had scheduled a note to publish online during the attack, though its contents were swiftly removed. Court records show that Westman legally changed name and gender in 2020. Federal officials are now probing Westman’s possible motives and whether anti-Catholic sentiment influenced the attack.
The Minneapolis Catholic school shooting has renewed debate over gun violence, religious hate crimes, and school security, leaving the local community in shock and grief.
