Two children shoot dead at a Catholic school in US

[27 August 2025]

Three people died and 17 were injured in a “horrific” school shooting at a Catholic school in the United States. The two children who died were aged eight and 10. The three fatalities include the shooter. At least 14 of those injured were children including two who are in a critical condition in hospital.

 

There was a Mass at the church just after 8am, which children at the school were attending. Eye-witnesses reported hearing semi-automatic gunfire for several minutes. The school is the US equivalent of a primary school, with children from pre-school up to eighth grade.

 

FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.”

Archbishop of Baltimore William E. Lori, vice-president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, “As a Church, we are following the tragic news from Annunciation School in Minneapolis with heartbreaking, sadness. Whenever one part of the Body of Christ is wounded, we feel the pain as if it were our very own children. Let us all beg the Lord for the protection and healing of the entire Annunciation family.”

The school and church were today surrounded by Minnesota State Troopers. The shooter, a man in his 20s who was dressed all in black, is understood to be dead by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had multiple weapons, including a shotgun and pistol, and opened fire with an automatic or semi-automatic rifle during Mass, with parents and other adults seated on one side of the aisle of the church and children on the other. Many sought refuge under the pews as he shot into the church from outside, through stained glass windows.

 

The Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey held a news conference, describing the “horror” and “evil” that had been visited on the city. He said the shooting was an unspeakable act. “Children are dead, there are families that have a deceased child, you cannot put into words the gravity, the tragic or absolute pain of this situation,” he said. “These kids were literally praying, it was the first week of school. They were in a church, these are kids that should be learning with their friends.”

 

Police chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter shot dozens of rounds from all three weapons. All the casings found were outside the building. The gunman was named as Robin Westman, who was born Robert and had transitioned to a female identity. His mother Mary had worked at the school and retired in 2021.

The Governor of Minnesota Tim Waltz said he was praying for the teachers and children, who were in the first week back at school after the summer holidays, describing it as a “horrific act of violence”. Emergency responders were outside the school today.

Earlier, the City of Minneapolis posted on X, “There is an active police situation at Annunciation Church, 509 W. 54th St. There is no active threat to the community at this time. The shooter is contained. Stay away from the area to allow emergency personnel to help victims.” Families of the children at the school were urged to go to a “reunification zone”.

US Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem said, “We are in communication with our interagency partners and will share more information as soon as it becomes available. I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families.”

US President Donald Trump was briefed. He said the FBI had responded quickly and were on the scene. He said on Truth Social, “Please join me in praying for everyone involved!”

Vice President JD Vance said on X, “We’re at the WH monitoring the situation in Minneapolis. Join all of us in praying for the victims!”

The school was founded in 1923, according to its website, as an institution where children can learn about Christian values and civic-mindedness, for parents, staff and students who “truly value education and faith-based learning”.

The incident is the fourth deadly shooting in Minneapolis in 24 hours and comes as the President has declared a crackdown on crime in the capital, Washington. There have been 33 school shootings in the US so far this year alone. Last year there were 83 school shootings. School children across the US are given special instruction on what to do during a shooting incident, with one of the main pieces of advice being to stay quiet.

Source:  [The Tablet] Ruth Gledhill