By
A shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has left two children dead and several others injured, according to local officials. The suspected shooter is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police confirmed two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed where they sat in the pews. Seventeen others were injured, 14 of whom are children, including two who are in critical condition.
The Children’s Minnesota hospital said in a statement that it is treating six children. “Children’s Minnesota is aware of the recent tragic shooting in Minneapolis. Our teams are trained to respond in times of crisis, and are fully prepared to care for impacted children. Currently, six children are admitted to our hospital for care. We will not share more details to respect the privacy of our patients and families,” Children’s Minnesota told MNSBC. Children’s Minnesota later clarified that seven children had been initially admitted, but that one child was discharged.
NBC News reported Hennepin Healthcare is treating nine pediatric patients, ranging in ages from 6 to 14, and two adults. Seven of these patients are in critical condition and four “required the operating room,” Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine, said at a news conference.
The hospital said there have been no fatalities among these patients.
The shooter was identified as Robin Westman by multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the matter, NBC News reported. Officials said the suspect posted multiple videos online referencing suicide and “extremely violent thoughts and ideas,” and left behind an apology to their family and a sketch of a church’s layout, although it was not clear that sketch was for Annunciation Catholic School.
In a press conference that began just before noon, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said a gunman in their 20s, wearing black clothing and armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, approached the building and fired dozens of rounds through the window.
Calling the attack “an act of evil,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he is “so deeply saddened, and I’m so sorry to the families I know are suffering right now.”
He added, “Don’t say this is about ‘thoughts and prayers’ right now — These kids were literally praying.”
First responders attempted to administer first aid, to rescue hiding children and rush victims to nearby hospitals. A reunification zone for family of Annunciation School students has been set up at 525 W. 54th Street.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar told MNSBC that one of her longtime employees has children enrolled at the school. “These kids are doing an all-school mass and had to watch several of her friends get shot — one in the back, one in the neck,” Klobuchar told MSNBC. “They all got down under the pews and she — her daughter, of course, was not shot — but her daughter ended up being the one to tell one of the dads of one of the other kids that his daughter had been shot.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on BlueSky that he has been briefed on the shooting and will provide updates. “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” Walz wrote.
President Donald Trump said he has spoken with Walz after announcing earlier on Truth Social that he had been “fully briefed” about the incident and that “The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from nearby St. Paul also responded to the incident. The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said they are aware of the situation.
Annunciation Catholic School in southwest Minneapolis teaches children from pre-K to eighth grade. Monday marked its first week of school, and an all-school mass was scheduled for Wednesday.
Wednesday’s shooting is the most recent of several notable violent incidents in Minneapolis this year. On June 14, Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband, Mark, and the couple’s golden retriever, were killed in a politically motivated attack at their home.
Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman, who was also stalked and shot by the same shooter, made his first public appearance at a Democratic National Convention meeting in Minneapolis this week since the attempt on his life. Hoffman was shot nine times and his wife, Yvette, was shot 10 times.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.