Minneapolis, Minnesota – August 27, 2025
Authorities in Minneapolis confirmed that the shooter responsible for a horrific mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School has been contained, with the gunman dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. The attack, which unfolded during a morning Mass marking the first week of the school year, claimed the lives of two young children—an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old—and left 17 others injured, including 14 children. Two of the child victims remain in critical condition, as emergency responders and law enforcement swarmed the south Minneapolis neighborhood in the wake of the “deliberate act of violence.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the incident as “absolutely incomprehensible” during a midday press conference, detailing how the shooter, identified by federal law enforcement sources as 23-year-old Robin Westman from suburban Minneapolis, approached the exterior of Annunciation Church around 8:30 a.m. Armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, the assailant fired dozens of rounds—estimated at 30 to 50—through the church windows directly at children and worshippers seated in the pews. The shooter, dressed in black and showing no extensive criminal history, then turned the weapon on himself, ensuring there was no ongoing threat to the community.
The Minneapolis Police Department issued an update on X shortly after 9:30 a.m. stating that the shooter was “contained” and emphasizing that there is “no active threat to the community at this time.” Families were directed to a reunification center at the school on West 54th Street, where emotional scenes unfolded as parents awaited news of their children. Witnesses described the chaos: One nearby resident, Bill Bienemann, recounted hearing the barrage of gunfire, initially mistaking it for fireworks, while a 10-year-old survivor named Weston told local affiliate KSTP that he hid under a pew as shots shattered the stained-glass windows mere feet away, with a friend struck in the back.
Medical teams sprang into action, with Hennepin County Medical Center receiving 11 patients—nine children and two adults—including six children and one adult in critical condition from high-velocity gunshot wounds. Four victims required immediate surgery. Children’s Minnesota Hospital admitted at least five children, with one in stable condition at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital. Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine at Hennepin, noted that the facility is accustomed to mass casualty events but stressed the profound impact of treating young victims: “We’ve had two mass casualty events happen in the last 24 hours.”
Investigators are probing potential motives, with law enforcement examining social media accounts and a YouTube video posted by the shooter earlier that morning. The video reportedly shows Westman flipping through notebooks filled with weapon drawings, a sketch of a church interior with pews, and stickers referencing “defend equality” alongside a silhouette of a long gun and allusions to a band associated with the Columbine shooters. Additional writings on the firearms included phrases like “Kill Donald Trump,” and sources indicate the manifesto expressed “extremely violent thoughts,” suicidal ideation, and an apology to family members. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is tracing the weapons, including a possible smoke bomb found at the scene, while the FBI and other federal agencies assist local police.
The tragedy struck Annunciation Catholic School, a pre-K through eighth-grade institution founded in 1923 with about 370 students, during its annual all-school Mass—an event open to the community and symbolizing the start of the academic year. Recent social media posts from the school showed children in green uniforms smiling and engaging in back-to-school activities just days earlier. Parishioner Renee Lego, whose two children had blood on them from the chaos, called the attack “horrific—so cowardly,” noting it targeted the first Mass of the year.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, visibly emotional as he sat on the school’s steps, condemned the violence: “Children are dead… You cannot put into words the gravity, the tragic or absolute pain of this situation.” He rejected empty rhetoric, adding, “Don’t just say this is about ‘thoughts and prayers’ right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz echoed the sentiment, posting on X: “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.” Walz confirmed speaking with President Donald Trump, who was briefed on the incident and posted on Truth Social: “I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting… Please join me in praying for everyone involved!”
This shooting is the fifth school-related incident in the U.S. in 2025, according to NBC News’ tracker, and comes amid a surge of violence in Minneapolis. Just 24 hours prior, one person was killed and six injured in a shooting outside a high school, followed by two more fatal incidents. The city has seen over 140 school shootings nationwide this year, per the K-12 School Shooting Database, highlighting the ongoing gun violence epidemic. Father Edward Beck, speaking to CNN, called the desecration of a sanctuary “even more horrific,” while Bishop Kevin Kenney, who grew up in the parish, offered comfort at the hospital, lamenting, “It shouldn’t be happening.”
On X, reactions poured in, with users like @JamesMartinSJ calling for prayers to Our Lady of the Annunciation and an end to gun violence, while @RepCarbajal demanded “common sense gun reform, NOW.” Others, including @Rodiedog, decried the shooter as “mentally deranged,” linking to reports of a manifesto. The Jewish Center for Justice (@JewishCJustice) expressed heartbreak, noting no place is safe from gun violence.
As the investigation continues, the community grapples with unimaginable loss. A family resource center has been established, and clergy like Father Erich Rutten are providing solace to wailing parents. This senseless tragedy underscores the urgent need for action to protect places of worship and learning, leaving Minneapolis—and the nation—in mourning.