The FBI is investigating a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Roman Catholics. The attack, which occurred during morning mass, resulted in the deaths of two children (aged 8 and 10) and injuries to 17 others, including children and elderly parishioners. The 23-year-old perpetrator, Robin Westman, a former student, died by self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Evidence from a social media video, posted by the attacker concurrently with the shooting, revealed expressions of depression, a desire to carry out an attack, displays of firearms, and racist, antisemitic, and violent messages. The tragedy has prompted widespread grief and renewed calls for stricter gun control legislation from local officials and a Minnesota Congresswoman.
Summary of the Annunciation Catholic School Shooting
0:02 FBI Investigation: The FBI is investigating the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Roman Catholics.
0:09 Casualties: Two children, aged 10 and 8, were killed. Seventeen others were injured, including 14 children (aged 6-15) and three parishioners in their 80s.
0:14 Incident Details: The attacker opened fire during morning mass as children were still entering the building, shooting from outside through windows with three different guns, firing dozens of rounds.
0:19 Attacker Identified: The shooter was identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, a former student of the school who had legally changed their name in 2020. Westman died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and reportedly had no significant criminal history.
1:12 Eyewitness Account: A local resident, Patrick Scallan, ran towards the gunfire and found wounded children trying to flee, including a girl with a head wound asking, "Why does this happen?"
2:15 Motive & Ideology: Detectives are reviewing a social media video, timed with the shooting, in which the assailant expressed depression, a desire to attack, showed off guns and ammunition, and shared racist, antisemitic, and violent messages.
2:51 Community & Political Response: Vigils were held, President Trump ordered flags at half-mast, and politicians called for action beyond "thoughts and prayers," emphasizing that such tragedies should "never again" occur.
3:21 Call for Gun Law Reform: Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Betty McCollum attributed the problem to existing gun laws, advocating for federal "common sense gun laws" and a ban on assault weapons, stating that weapons designed to "hunt and target human beings" should not be readily available.
4:13 Congressional Responsibility: McCollum urged Congress to take concrete action on gun control, stating that solutions are "in front of them" and that prayer alone is insufficient.