Minneapolis experienced a tragic event when a shooting occurred at the Annunciation Catholic School during a Mass on Wednesday morning. Just as a psalm was being read to approximately 200 students, gunfire erupted, shattering the peaceful atmosphere.
According to witnesses, someone shouted, “Down! Everybody down!” as children desperately sought refuge behind wooden pews. A student heroically shielded a friend and was shot in the back, while a youth minister made a heartbreaking call to her husband to say goodbye amid the chaos. Many of the congregants worked together to barricade a door using a wood plank before fleeing to a gymnasium for safety. Sixth grader Chloe Francoual later described her fears to her father, stating she thought she was going to die.
This horrific incident took place just days into the new school year. The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire with a rifle through the windows of the church around 8:30 a.m. The assault claimed the lives of two children, aged 8 and 10, and left 17 others injured. Of the wounded, 14 were children between the ages of 6 and 15, but authorities reported that all were expected to survive. Following the shooting, Westman died by suicide.
A vigil was held on Wednesday evening, attended by hundreds who grieved the tragedy. Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar were present, along with Catholic clergy and community members, who united in prayer and support. Archbishop Bernard Hebda referenced the inscription at the front of Annunciation Church, emphasizing its significance as a “House of God and the gate of heaven.”
The shooting at Annunciation Catholic School highlights a grim trend as schools across the U.S. are grappling with safety concerns. It comes amid other recent incidents, including hoax active shooter calls at several college campuses, causing distress and anxiety in educational environments nationwide.
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