FBI investigating shooting as act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics
The FBI is investigating the school shooting in Minneapolis as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics, the bureau’s director Kash Patel has announced in a post on X.
Patel continued:
There were 2 fatalities, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. In addition, 14 children and 3 adults were injured. The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, a male born as Robert Westman. The FBI will continue to provide updates on our ongoing investigation with the public as we are able.
Key events
Rachel Leingang
A young man carrying white flowers approached a police line a block away from the church and school on Wednesday where hours earlier an assailant opened fire on schoolchildren, blasting bullets through stained glass windows and killing two kids.
Arthur Louie grew up a few blocks away from Annunciation church in south Minneapolis, Minnesota. The church throws a fair before school starts, he said, describing it as a “staple point in this community”. He was devastated to hear about the shooting, holding back tears as he said he wanted to bring flowers to pay his respects. He did not attend the school, but has many friends connected to it and described the neighborhood as tight-knit.
“It’s everything. We’re so tied together. Block parties are huge. The community here just gets along so well,” he said. “Something like this happens, it doesn’t matter what our beliefs are, we’re going to band together.”
Louie kneeled at a stoplight pole outside the police line, pulling the flowers from their plastic and placing them on the ground, starting a makeshift vigil.
The assailant, identified by police as Robin Westman, killed themself as well. Police said Wednesday they are investigating any potential motives and executing search warrants related to the shooter. FBI director Kash Patel said the bureau is “investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics”. In addition to the two children killed, 14 children and three adults were injured.
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Marina Dunbar
Leaders and parents across the US have reacted in shock and horror as yet another mass shooting has struck the country, this time at a Minneapolis Catholic school where an assailant opened fire on children gathered in a church celebrating their first mass of the new school year.
Authorities said the shooting took place Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic school. Two children, ages eight and 10, were shot and killed as they sat in a pew at Annunciation church. About 17 other people were hurt, with 14 of them being children.
As details emerged, political leaders released statements on the shooting.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz wrote on social media: “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.”
Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey urged politicians to take greater actions in preventing gun violence, saying during a Wednesday press conference: “Every one of us needs to be wrapping our arms around these families, giving them every ounce that we can muster. These were Minneapolis families. These were American families, and the amount of pain that they are suffering right now is extraordinary.”
He added: “Don’t just say, this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith have also been briefed on the incident, with Klobuchar writing: “I am heartbroken by the horrific violence at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis this morning. My prayers are with the students, teachers, and families, and I am grateful for the first responders who are on the scene.”
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Here is a statement from Danielle Gunter, the mother of an eighth grader who was shot earlier this morning in Minneapolis:
“For the first responders, who raced into danger for others, for us. We thank them all … Our son shared with us that an MPD officer ‘really helped him’. He said the officer rendered aid, hugged him, reassured him, and prayed with him before getting into the ambulance …
We ask for leaders to place armed security at schools to prevent another tragedy like this. There is no higher calling than keeping kids safe – and it starts with protecting them from evil in this world.
We feel the pain, the anger, the confusion, and the searing reality that our lives will never be the same. Yet we still have our child.
Unlike others, we are blessed to hold onto him. We will help him rebuild his life, his trust, and his confidence. We don’t want others to ever feel the same. And we pray that everyone touched by this tragedy can find the strength to begin rebuilding too.
What we know so far
Here is a look at what we know so far about the shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning:
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Two people were killed, including an eight-year-old and a 10-year-old.
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17 people were injured, including 14 children and three adults.
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All of the remaining victims are expected to survive, according to law enforcement. “There is a wide range of injures, however,” said Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara.
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There was a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol which had all been lawfully purchased by the shooter, law enforcement said, adding that they believe the shooter acted alone.
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The shooter has been named as Robin Westman, 23, by local news outlets. Westman reportedly grew up in Richfield, Minnesota, and their mother worked at Annunciation school.
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The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics, the bureau’s director Kash Patel has announced.
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Law enforcement is aware of a manifesto the shooter appeared to want to post on YouTube. O’Hara said the content included “disturbing writings”, adding that the content has been taken down with the FBI’s assistance and is under active review.
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Donald Trump has ordered American flags to be flown at half-mast following the mass shooting until 31 August.
Speaking at the news conference, the Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said law enforcement is aware of a manifesto the shooter appeared to want to post on YouTube.
O’Hara said the content included “disturbing writings”, adding that the content has been taken down with the FBI’s assistance and is under active review.
Asked if this is being investigated as a hate crime targeting Catholics, O’Hara repeats that there is no motive established at this time.
He gives the same answer when asked if it’s being treated as domestic terrorism, per the FBI.
Police chief confirms shooter had manifesto but refused to be drawn on potential motive
There is no update to share on a motive at this time, O’Hara says, adding investigators have search warrants for three locations.
He earlier told the news conference the shooter had scheduled a manifesto to be released on YouTube.
O’Hara said it “appeared to show him at the scene and included some disturbing writings”.
He added that the content has now been taken down with the assistance of the FBI.
All injured expected to survive, police say
All of the remaining victims are expected to survive, O’Hara has just told reporters. “There is a wide range of injures, however,” he adds without elaborating further.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz also told the news conference the shooting will have a lasting impact on the community after the news cycle move on.
“A lot of cameras here, and unfortunately, we’ve been through these types of things. They will be gone at some point. All of you, you have to do your jobs,” Walz said, referring to reporters. “But what happened here today will not be gone. Minnesotans will not step away. We’ll stand with this community.”
Firearms were lawfully purchased by the shooter, police confirm
A rifle, shotgun and pistol had all been lawfully purchased by the shooter, O’Hara said, adding it is believed the shooter acted alone.
At this point, there are 19 victims –two children aged eight and 10 who were pronounced dead on the scene.
Another 14 children were injured along with three adults in their 80s who were parishioners, Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said in an update.
Minneapolis mayor calls for action on gun violence and hits out at those ‘villainizing trans community’
“Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community has lost their sense of common humanity,” said Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey just now.
We should not be operating from a place of hate for anyone. We should be operating from a place of love for our kids. This is about them.
“As horrible as this has been, it could have been far worse,” Frey went on.
I think the impetus has to be on all of us as leaders to do a whole lot more to recognise that we’ve got more guns in this country than we have people. And it’s on all of us to recognize the truth and the reality that we can’t just say that this should not happen again and then allow it to happen again and again beyond that.
“It’s certainly a day and a news conference that no one wants to be at,” Minnesota governor Tim Walz has just told the news conference on the shooting.
Children were met with “evil and horror and death”, he said, adding:
We often come to these and say these are unspeakable tragedies or there are no words for this. There shouldn’t be words for these kinds of incidents because they should not happen. And there’s no words that are going to ease the pain of the families today.
Pope Leo ‘profoundly saddened’ by school shooting
Pope Leo XIV was “profoundly saddened” to learn of the deaths and injuries from the mass shooting, the Vatican said in a statement reported by CNN.
“He sends his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child,” said Vatican secretary of state Pietro Parolin.
The Pope is praying for the victims, first responders and clergy, and sends his blessings to the school and community, Parolin added.