Minneapolis Annunciation Shooting: Victims, Suspect & Latest Updates

A horrific mass shooting on Wednesday morning (August 27, 2025) at Annunciation Catholic Church and School left two children dead and 17 wounded in one of the deadliest school attacks in the city of Minneapolis.

The gunman, Robin Westman, 23, shot from the exterior of the church as children attended their first week of school Mass. The shooting shocked the city and prompted investigations into possible domestic terrorism and hate crime motives.

The Timeline: How the Shooting Happened

• 8:25 a.m. – Students, teachers, and parishioners began pouring into Annunciation Church for the school year’s first-week Mass. Witnesses report the pews were packed with kids, from kindergartners through eighth-graders, mostly.
• 8:30 a.m. – Gunfire started. Witnesses heard rapid bursts of gunfire as bullets shattered stained-glass windows and tore through wooden pews. Children shrieked and scrambled for cover as panic set in.
• Teachers and church staff quickly ushered students onto the floor and toward doorways, using their own bodies to protect children.
• 8:37 a.m. – Minneapolis police received several 911 calls regarding “shots fired in a church with kids inside.”
• 8:40 a.m. – Officers responded to the scene in a matter of minutes. Already, the shooter had used one of the guns against himself.

Police confirmed the suspect never went inside the building; the shots were fired from outside the windows.

Eyewitness Accounts

Some neighbors initially wrote the sound off as a construction project. “At first, I thought it was somebody hammering or removing a wall,” said one resident. “But then it just kept going and going. That’s when I knew it was shooting.”

Inside the church, one of the teachers recounted the pandemonium:

“Windows just exploded. Children were screaming. We told them get down, stay low. Some of them were frozen in fear. It was like a nightmare.”

Parents hurried to the scene following lockdown notices, waiting in agony at police barricades for word on their kids.

The Suspect: Who Was Robin Westman?

The gunman has been identified by police as Robin Westman, 23, of Minneapolis, with no serious criminal history.

Court documents reveal that in 2019, Westman’s mother filed to have her child’s name changed from Robert to Robin on the grounds of gender identity. According to FOX 9, Westman’s mother had a stint in the past at Annunciation Catholic School, although police would not verify if the connection was an influencing factor.

Police found three guns — a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol — all bought lawfully in the previous year.

Most astounding, police argue, Westman uploaded a manifesto to YouTube, made up of audio recordings that were allegedly captured on the scene, as well as writings that suggested animosity toward the Catholic Church. The FBI removed the material and is now examining it for evidence.

Chief Brian O’Hara told the press:

“This was a unimaginable tragedy. The coward who did this atrocity killed children in a place of worship and then took his own life. We will hear about his motive for sure.”

Victims: Two Children Killed, Dozens Hurt

The two killed children were identified only by age so far: one 8-year-old and one 10-year-old.

Among the 17 wounded victims are:

• 14 children, ages 6 to 15.
• 3 adults, in their 80s, who were at the Mass.

At Hennepin Healthcare, physicians have confirmed that six of the victims remain critical and hospitalized, while others recover.

Four of the young victims have been discharged from Children’s Minnesota Hospital, but three continue treatment.

A Story of Survival: Sophia Forchas

One of the most seriously injured survivors is 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, who remains in the ICU after undergoing emergency surgery. Her little brother attended the Mass but was not physically injured.

Sophia’s mom, a nurse in a pediatric intensive care unit, was actually reported to have been working, taking care of a trauma victim, when informed her daughter was among the injured.

There already is a GoFundMe page for the Forchas family that has raised over $30,000, a testament to the community response.

Community Vigils and Mourning

By evening, the city gathered to mourn together.

• Hundreds participated in a candlelit vigil at Lynnhurst Park, joined by city officials and leaders of faith.
• At the Academy of Holy Angels, Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison joined families and clergy for hymns and prayer.

Mayor Jacob Frey called the shooting “an unspeakable tragedy,” urging Minneapolis not only to grieve but to work against gun violence.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan vowed continued support to families and the need for preventing future attacks.

Spiritual figures, including Archbishop Bernard Hebda, expressed solidarity by reading a letter from Pope Leo, who expressed condolences and prayers for grieving families.

Calls for Action on Gun Violence

The tragedy spurred a Minnesota and national conversation on gun legislation.

• Attorney General Keith Ellison called for a prohibition of assault-style weapons at the federal level.
• Nonprofit groups like Protect Minnesota called for stricter gun control to keep high-powered weapons out of civilian hands.

The same calls were made by residents at vigils, holding “Protect Kids, Not Guns” and “Never Again” signs.

How the Public Can Help

The City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Foundation have established an official donation line. To donate, text ACF1 to 41444. Donations will be directly deposited into the victims’ families.

In the meantime, an impromptu memorial keeps expanding outside the school, where locals have strewn flowers, crosses, teddy bears, and missives by hand for the lost children.

Annunciation School: A Place of Learning Turned Tragedy

Annunciation Catholic School, operating from pre-K through eighth grade, has been a fixture of the Minneapolis area for decades. With 391 students enrolled last year, it’s been well established as a tight-knit community with religious-based learning.

Principal Matt DeBoer was on hand to praise the courage of his children and teachers:

“This was a nightmare none of us could have imagined. But our children and teachers showed remarkable courage. Without their heroism, it could have been worse.”

Key Facts at a Glance

• Date of shooting: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
• Location: Annunciation Catholic Church and School, Minneapolis
• Casualties: 2 children died, 17 injured (14 children, 3 adults)
• Shooter: Robin Westman, 23 (died of suicide by gunshot at the site)
• Weapons employed: Rifle, shotgun, pistol (all purchased legally)
• Motivation: Under investigation; FBI probing as domestic terrorism and a possible hate crime
• Donations: Text ACF1 to 41444

What Comes Next?

Police have issued multiple search warrants regarding the case, seizing electronic equipment and documents from Westman’s residences. Authorities are examining the shooter’s manifesto for indications of a political motive.

Meanwhile, grief counselors are being offered to Annunciation students and families. Survivors have been promised long-term support by city officials in Minneapolis.

The city is shocked, but as the candles flicker outside the church, families and leaders have one message: Minneapolis must mourn, heal, and move forward, and ensure that this type of violence never happens again.

For breaking news, visit FOX 9 Minneapolis.