Minneapolis is reeling after a mass shooting inside Annunciation Catholic School left two children dead and nearly twenty more victims injured in what officials are calling one of the darkest days in the city’s history.
Dispatch Audio Paints a Grim Picture
Police radio traffic from the scene revealed the sheer scale of the tragedy. Officers urgently requested “a lot more medical” personnel to treat the wounded and called for streets to be cleared so ambulances could quickly reach victims.
One particularly haunting dispatch mentioned a child with a gunshot wound to the head, highlighting just how devastating the attack was for the small pre-K through 8th grade school community.
How the Attack Unfolded
Authorities say the violence began around 8:30 AM Wednesday, during a scheduled school-wide Mass.
- Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara explained that the suspect arrived at the church wearing all black.
- Armed with a rifle, shotgun, and handgun, he fired dozens of rounds through the windows into the church where students, teachers, and parents had gathered.
- Bullets struck children and adults alike as chaos erupted inside the building.
The Toll
- Two children, just 10 and 8 years old, were killed in the gunfire.
- 17 more people were injured — including 14 kids.
- At least seven victims remain in critical condition at local hospitals.
Chief O’Hara confirmed the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.
The Suspect: Identified as Robin Westman
Authorities have identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman.
Federal investigators are now combing through Westman’s online footprint, which reportedly included multiple disturbing videos referencing violence. The FBI is treating the incident as both domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.
Firsthand Accounts
Witnesses described the shooting as lasting for “several minutes.” One local resident told reporters they could hear rapid bursts of gunfire echoing from the church. Parents scrambled to find their children, while students hid in classrooms and storage areas until law enforcement cleared the building.
Political & Community Response
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey delivered an emotional press conference, saying children and parents should never have to live in fear of mass shootings. He urged the community to go beyond “thoughts and prayers” and come together in action.
- Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar shared a heartbreaking detail: the daughter of one of her former staffers was inside the church during the attack and watched two of her friends get shot. She later had to deliver the tragic news to one victim’s father.
- Governor Tim Walz released a statement within the hour of the shooting, calling it a “horrific act of violence” and pledging full resources of the state to aid the investigation.
A City in Mourning
Annunciation Catholic School, known for its tight-knit community, had just begun its first week of the new school year. The school’s website showed a Mass scheduled for 8:15 AM — just minutes before the first 911 calls came in.
Now, the pews that were meant for prayer are marked by tragedy. Grieving parents, shattered classmates, and an entire city are left to reckon with the senseless violence.
What’s Next
Investigators continue to search for answers about Westman’s motive. Officials confirmed he carried multiple firearms, but no explosives were found.
Meanwhile, parents and survivors face an unimaginable recovery process — both physical and emotional.
Two children are gone. Dozens of families are forever changed.
This is a developing story, and The Pop Radar will continue to bring updates as new details emerge.
