Minneapolis Annunciation School Tragedy: FBI Investigates Possible Hate-Motivated Attack
The Minneapolis Annunciation School Tragedy: FBI Investigates Possible Hate-Motivated Attack has left the community in shock. What should have been a joyful morning Mass and the start of a new school year ended in heartbreak on August 27, when two children were killed and 17 others injured inside Annunciation Catholic Church and School.
The FBI has confirmed it is investigating the tragedy as a possible case of domestic terrorism and hate-motivated violence targeting Catholics. FBI Director Kash Patel said the case is receiving national-level attention and will be pursued thoroughly.
Timeline of Events
The attack began just before 8:00 a.m. local time. Authorities say the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, approached the side of the church and fired dozens of rounds through stained glass windows.
Police recovered three firearms – a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun – as well as a smoke device that was not used. Investigators are still determining whether any shots were fired from inside the building, since no shell casings were found inside.
The suspect was later found deceased at the scene.
Victims and Eyewitness Accounts
The two victims were children aged eight and ten. Seventeen others were injured, most of them school students between 6 and 15 years old, along with three older parishioners.
Resident Patrick Scallen told the BBC he rushed to the church after hearing the gunfire. “I saw three children running. One girl had a head wound and kept asking me to hold her hand. I told her I wasn’t going anywhere.”
A fifth grader described to WCCO Minnesota how his best friend shielded him during the chaos. “I was two seats away from the window. My friend covered me with his body. He got hit, but he saved me.”
The Suspect
Authorities identified the gunman as Robin Westman, a 23-year-old Minneapolis resident. Court records show Westman legally changed their name in 2020.
School documents revealed that Westman’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, previously worked at Annunciation before retiring in 2021. Police also discovered a digital note scheduled to be published during the attack, though it was quickly removed by investigators.
Official Reactions
Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the attack a deliberate act of violence. “The cruelty of firing into a church filled with children is impossible to comprehend,” he told reporters.
Mayor Jacob Frey urged residents to remain united and avoid spreading hatred. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed that President Donald Trump personally expressed condolences and pledged federal support.
From Rome, Pope Leo XIV—the first American pope—offered prayers for the victims, saying he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.
A Community in Mourning
By Wednesday evening, hundreds of residents gathered outside Annunciation Church for a candlelight vigil. People prayed, left flowers, and embraced one another in grief.
“No parent should ever send their child to school and receive news like this,” one community member said, holding back tears.
Key Facts
- Location: Annunciation Catholic Church & School, Minneapolis
- Date: August 27, 2025
- Fatalities: 2 children (ages 8 and 10)
- Injured: 17 (14 children, 3 adults)
- Suspect: Robin Westman, 23, deceased at the scene
- Status: Under FBI investigation as a possible hate crime and domestic terrorism
