The Minneapolis community is reeling after a school Mass turned into a scene of unimaginable horror and one child’s emotional plea to his father is capturing the heartbreak felt by families across the city.
A morning of faith turned to fear
Parents and children filled Annunciation Catholic Church on Wednesday morning for what should have been a peaceful back-to-school Mass. Instead, the service was shattered when a gunman dressed in black opened fire through the stained-glass windows, spraying bullets into the pews where dozens of students were seated. One parent estimated the gunman fired 50 to 100 shots through the stained-glass windows, calling the act “evil.”
Authorities confirmed that two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed, while 17 others were injured, 14 of them kids. Hospital officials said seven are in critical condition, and nine pediatric patients between ages 6 and 14 are being treated.
Witnesses described chaos as children screamed, parents rushed forward, and terrified families scrambled for safety.
A child’s gutwrenching plea
As students were evacuated from the sanctuary, one young boy clutched his father’s hand and whispered, “I don’t feel safe.” Another was seen hugging a stuffed animal tightly as parents sobbed with relief to find their children alive.
Photos from the reunification site showed tearful embraces between families, many of whom had spent agonizing moments unsure if their child had survived the attack.
Shooter identified as 23-year-old
Police later identified the gunman as Robin Westman, 23, a Richfield native who had armed himself with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol. Investigators say he attempted to block the doors with a piece of wood, described as a 2-by-4.
Westman uploaded a video minutes before the shooting, laughing manically as he displayed a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, each marked with disturbing messages.
He died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
Police also noted that Westman’s mother previously worked at Annunciation School until 2021, though investigators have not linked her employment to his actions.
Leaders respond as families mourn
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he was “praying for our kids and teachers,” while President Donald Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff in honor of the young victims. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey delivered a somber message: “Children are dead. There are families that have a deceased child. You cannot put into words the gravity, the tragedy, or the absolute pain of this situation.”
Classes at the school had only resumed earlier this week. For many parents, the first week of school has now become a memory marked by loss and fear, with one little boy’s words echoing the collective grief of a city: “I don’t feel safe.”
