On August 27, a horrific shooting shattered the sanctity of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a morning Mass celebrating the start of the school year. A 23-year-old gunman, identified as Robin Westman, opened fire through the church windows, killing two children, ages 8 and 10, and injuring 17 others, including 14 children. Westman, who died by suicide at the scene, left a community reeling and a nation grappling with another tragic act of gun violence. Here’s a detailed look at the events, the ongoing investigation, and the profound impact on those affected, based on the latest updates.
The Morning of the Tragedy
The attack occurred just after 8:30 a.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church, located at 509 W. 54th St. in south Minneapolis, where the attached school serves over 430 students from pre-K to eighth grade. The all-school Mass, a tradition marking the first week of the 2025-26 school year, had begun at 8:15 a.m., filling the pews with children, teachers, and parishioners. Without warning, Westman, dressed in black and armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, approached the church’s exterior. He fired dozens of rounds through the windows, targeting the children inside, in what Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called a “deliberate act of violence against innocent children and worshippers.”
The gunfire, lasting about two minutes, sent worshippers diving for cover. “We heard an automatic gun and all got down,” said youth pastor Ellie Mertens, who was near a window. Two children, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, were killed in their pews. Seventeen others were injured, including 14 children, with two in critical condition. Weston Halsne, a 10-year-old fifth-grader, described hiding under a pew as bullets shattered a stained glass window nearby, one striking his friend in the back. “I was super scared for him,” Weston told Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP.
The Suspect: Robin Westman
The shooter, identified by law enforcement sources as Robin Westman, a 23-year-old from Richfield, Minnesota, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the rear of the church. Westman, who legally changed his name from Robert in January 2020, had a limited criminal history, and his mother reportedly worked at Annunciation School, though her role is unclear. He barricaded at least two church doors with a wooden plank, suggesting premeditation, and a possible smoke bomb was found at the scene, though no explosives were confirmed.
Investigators are digging into Westman’s motives, which remain uncertain. A YouTube video posted earlier that day, reportedly linked to him, showed pages of notes with drawings of weapons and a church interior, alongside references to suicide and violent thoughts. A notebook with a sticker tied to a German band associated with past school shootings was also noted, though the band has denounced violence. These findings point to a planned attack, but police have yet to pinpoint why Westman targeted Annunciation. The ATF is tracing his weapons, and the FBI is assisting in analyzing his digital footprint.
A Community in Crisis
The aftermath was chaotic, with parents rushing to a reunification zone at a nearby school. Scenes of children, some bloodied, reuniting with sobbing parents were described as “heartbreaking” by witnesses. Renee Lego, a parishioner with two children at the school, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune her son mistook the gunfire for fireworks before seeing people fall. “It was obviously planned,” she said, noting the Mass was a children’s event.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, visibly emotional, rejected calls for mere “thoughts and prayers.” “These kids were literally praying,” he said. “Children are dead. Think of this as if it’s your own.” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the attack “horrific,” noting the school’s welcoming spirit was shattered. President Donald Trump ordered U.S. flags at half-staff until August 31, and congressional leaders, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, expressed horror and condolences.
Hospitals scrambled to treat the wounded. Hennepin Healthcare admitted 10 patients, eight of them children aged 6 to 14, while Children’s Minnesota cared for six, one later discharged. Two children remain in critical condition, with ongoing updates expected.
A Broader Wave of Violence
The shooting was the fourth deadly incident in Minneapolis within 24 hours, though police confirmed the others—a shooting in Phillips and two others—were unrelated. The city’s recent violence, including the June 2025 assassination of a state lawmaker, has heightened tensions. Nationally, the attack adds to a grim tally: over 140 school shootings in 2025, per the K-12 School Shooting Database, and 286 mass shootings overall, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Public reaction on X reflects anguish and frustration. “Kids praying in a church, and this still happens,” one user wrote. “How many more before we act?” Others praised first responders and clergy for their bravery, with one post noting, “Teachers and priests shielded kids. True heroes.”
The Search for Answers and Healing
The Minneapolis Police Department, alongside the FBI, ATF, and Minnesota BCA, is investigating, urging anyone with information to come forward. The focus is on Westman’s motives and how he accessed his firearms, with Minnesota’s relatively strict gun laws—background checks and red flag provisions—under scrutiny. No details have emerged on how Westman obtained his weapons legally or otherwise.
Annunciation School remains closed as the community mourns. Vigils and counseling services are being organized, with the church asking for prayers. The tragedy has reignited debates about school safety and gun control, with leaders like Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose former staffer’s daughter witnessed the horror, calling for action. “This image of a gunman shooting through windows, picking off kids while they’re praying, will stay with us,” she told CNN.
For now, Minneapolis holds its breath, grieving two young lives lost and praying for the injured. The scars of this day will linger, but the community’s resolve to heal and seek answers burns strong, a testament to the strength found in the face of unimaginable loss.
