Minneapolis church shooting kills 2 children 17 injured

Photo:AP

A shocking tragedy unfolded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday, August 26, 2025, when a heavily armed attacker opened fire inside a Catholic church during a school Mass. The attack left two young children dead and 17 people wounded, sparking grief, anger, and renewed debates about gun violence in the United States.

The shooting happened at Annunciation Church, which stands next to a Catholic school. The service was meant to celebrate the first week of the new school year. Instead, it turned into a nightmare that the children, teachers, and parents will never forget.

Children Caught in Gunfire

According to police, the attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire with multiple weapons, including a rifle, shotgun, and pistol. Westman had legally purchased these guns just weeks earlier.

As bullets shattered the church’s stained-glass windows, students screamed and scrambled for safety. Two children, aged 8 and 10, were shot and killed as they sat in the pews.

In total, 14 children were wounded but are expected to survive. Three elderly parishioners were also shot during the chaos.

One 10-year-old survivor told reporters that he only lived because of his friend’s bravery.

“I ran under the pew and covered my head. My friend Victor saved me because he laid on top of me. But he got hit.”

Quick Thinking Saved Many Lives

Teachers and staff acted immediately when the gunfire began. The school principal and church pastor said in a joint statement that within seconds, staff pushed students under pews and sheltered them. Their quick response likely saved many more children from being shot.

Shooter’s Identity and Background

Authorities confirmed the shooter was Robin Westman, a former student of the same Catholic school. Westman was born male as Robert Westman, later legally changed their name in 2020, and identified as a transgender woman.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are investigating the case as a possible act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.

Police also discovered that Westman left behind disturbing online videos and a multi-page manifesto filled with violent writings and sketches of guns. Authorities are still studying the material to understand the motive.

The shooter died by suicide in the church parking lot before police could arrest them.

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Reactions from Officials and Leaders

City Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the motive is still unclear but confirmed that the attack was carefully planned.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the attack “unthinkable” in a post online.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, however, warned people not to use the tragedy to attack or blame the transgender community.

“Anyone who uses this tragedy to villainize our trans community has lost their sense of humanity. The real issue is our country has more guns than people.”

Across the nation, political leaders also reacted.

* President Donald Trump ordered US flags lowered to half-staff.

* Former President Barack Obama condemned the shooting as “unspeakable and unnecessary violence.”

* Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, expressed that he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of young lives.

* Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis said, “We need an end to gun violence,” noting that another school shooting had happened just one day earlier in the area.

Community in Grief

On Wednesday evening, more than 600 people gathered at a nearby school for a candlelight vigil. Parents, teachers, neighbors, and children held hands, prayed, and cried together.

One woman, Louise Fowler, told reporters she had known the shooter’s mother through the church.

“The family worked hard with this child who had a lot of problems,” she said softly.

Growing Concern Over Gun Violence in the U.S. 

This attack adds to the long list of mass shootings in America. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have already been at least 287 mass shootings in 2025 alone.

Each time, leaders promise change, but laws to limit access to guns remain stuck in political arguments. Meanwhile, families keep losing children, and communities live in fear that their schools and churches could be next.

Final Thoughts

The Minneapolis church shooting has shaken the city, the Catholic community, and the entire country. Two innocent children lost their lives, dozens were wounded, and hundreds more will carry the trauma of that morning for the rest of their lives.

As America once again faces the horror of mass shootings, the question remains: how many more children must die before change finally happens?