Tragedy Strikes Minneapolis Catholic School as Church Shooting Leaves Two Children Dead

A tragic church shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school claimed the lives of two children and injured 17 others. Gunfire erupted during a prayer service, prompting chaos among students and staff. The suspect, who died by suicide, had no known motive. The close-knit community remains devastated, mourning a shattered sense of safety.

What began as a peaceful morning prayer at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis turned into a horrifying tragedy when gunfire shattered stained glass windows and pierced the sacred silence. Over 200 students, teachers, and parents had gathered in the church on the third day of the school year when bullets suddenly rained down.

As the congregation prepared to proclaim “Alleluia,” chaos erupted. Children screamed and ducked for cover behind pews. Some used wood to barricade doors, others fled to the gym. In the panic, 10-year-old Weston Halsne was shielded by his friend Victor, who was shot while protecting him. Victor remains hospitalized, hailed as a hero.

Two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed in the shooting. Seventeen others, including children as young as six and elderly parishioners, were wounded. Fourteen of the injured were students. The suspect, 23-year-old Robin Westman, was found dead by suicide behind the church. While his mother had once worked at the school, no motive or direct link to the institution has been established.

The community, known for its strong Catholic roots and tight-knit bonds, was left shattered. Vigils were held that evening, drawing thousands. Archbishop Bernard Hebda, addressing the mourners, offered words of sorrow and solidarity, acknowledging the pain and confusion gripping the city.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, expressed his condolences and prayers for the victims' families.

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In the aftermath, grief and shock still hang heavy. Parents cling to their children, many too traumatized to speak. Outside the crime scene, the belfry continues to ring—a haunting reminder of the peace that was violently broken in a place once deemed safe and sacred.