Multitudes gather to mourn two young lives lost and seventeen individuals injured in a gun violence incident at a Catholic school in Minneapolis
In a heart-wrenching incident, a shooter opened fire through the windows of the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, claiming the lives of two young children aged 8 and 10, and wounding 17 others.
Governor Tim Walz, in a show of mourning, ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on state buildings in memory of the victims. The same was done on federal buildings, as President Donald Trump also expressed his condolences. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, sent a telegram of condolences to the victims' relatives from the Vatican.
The shooting, which took place during Mass, sent shockwaves through the community. Governor Walz lamented that children just starting the school year were met with such a tragic incident. Principal Matt DeBoer commended the heroic response of the teachers and children during the shooting.
The alleged shooter, identified as Robin Westman, died by suicide after the shooting. Police are investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics. Westman, who had a mother who worked at the church for five years before retiring in 2021, was allowed to work at the church in 2021 by a person with whom she had a sour relationship before she withdrew.
On a YouTube channel titled Robin W, the alleged shooter released at least two videos before the channel was taken down. In one video, Westman shows a cache of weapons and ammunition with phrases like "kill Donald Trump" and "Where is your God?" written on them. In a second video, Westman points to two outside windows in what appears to be a drawing of the church, and then stabs it with a long knife.
The police chief stated that the officers immediately responded to the shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School. A wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors, and a smoke bomb was found at the scene. The police are also examining a social media post that appears to show the shooter at the scene.
Vincent Francoual's 11-year-old daughter, Chloe, survived the shooting by running downstairs to hide in a room with a table pressed against the door. However, Chloe is struggling to communicate clearly about the traumatizing scene she experienced during the shooting.
Fourteen children and three octogenarian parishioners were wounded but are expected to survive. The police chief also stated that the officers rendered first aid and rescued some of the children.
As the community grapples with this tragedy, prayers and support continue to pour in for the victims and their families. The Annunciation Catholic School, a beacon of education and faith in the community, will undoubtedly need time to heal.
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