Three people are dead, including the gunman, after a shooting was reported at Minnesota’s Annunciation Church on Wednesday morning.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the gunman began opening fire shortly before 8:30 a.m. local time as dozens of students were gathered for an all-school Mass. Two children were killed, aged 8 and 10, and another 17 people were injured, 14 of them children. Two of the injured children were in critical condition.
The shooter was armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol and fired dozens of shots through the windows at the worshippers. A law enforcement official told the Associated Press the shooter’s name is Robin Westman.
O’Hara said the shooter was a male in his early 20s, with no criminal history. Police are looking for a motive. It isn’t known if he was a former student of the school.
A smoke bomb was found on the property, but there were no explosive devices found, contrary to earlier reports. The shooter killed himself via a gunshot wound in the parking lot.
Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) said the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Minnesota State Patrol were on the scene.
“I’ve been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information. The BCA and State Patrol are on scene. I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” Walz said.
The shooter had been “contained,” as of 9:20 a.m., according to city officials.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said FBI agents were on the way to assist.
The Annunciation Catholic School, which teaches preschool through eighth grade, had its first day of classes on Monday, according to a Facebook post.
President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the shooting.
“I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!” he said in a post on Truth Social.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was in close contact with O’Hara and that the city’s “emergency response team has been activated.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to the MPD for further information.
DNC CHAIRMAN KEN MARTIN RETRACTS PRO-ISRAEL RESOLUTION AS DEMOCRATS’ GAZA TENSIONS SNAP
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin, who used to be the chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said the mayor informed him of the shooting, and he urged those who could to help out.
“There is an active shooter here in Minneapolis right now, an unknown amount of victims at a church and school. EMS has requested mass casualty … if any of you are doctors or otherwise first responders that could help — it seems to be a fairly significant shooting,” he said.
This is a breaking news story and has been updated.
