Politics

Beyond Prayers: How the Minneapolis School Shooting Spurs Calls for Gun Violence Action

Ex-student shot at school Mass, killing 2 kids & injuring 17. Shooter died by suicide; community mourns.

byEditorial Staff

August 28, 2025, 4:32 PM

A black and white view of empty church pews with a cross carved into the last pew

The interior of a church with rows of empty wooden pews and arched windows. By MDL.

Executive Summary

A 23-year-old former student, Robin Westman, opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis, killing two children and injuring 17 others during a start-of-school Mass.

Westman, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the premeditated attack, which included barricading church doors.

The tragedy has prompted widespread grief and renewed calls from community leaders and officials for concrete action to address gun violence.

The Story So Far

The tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School was a premeditated act carried out by a 23-year-old former student who had recently and lawfully purchased multiple weapons, despite having no known criminal history. This deliberate attack, which included barricading doors, underscores the ongoing challenge of gun violence and the ease with which individuals can acquire firearms, leading to such devastating consequences in places of worship and education.

Why This Matters

The tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School has profoundly shaken the Minneapolis community, shattering the sense of safety in places of worship and education and leaving families traumatized. This horrific event has intensified calls from state and local leaders for concrete legislative action against gun violence, moving beyond mere condolences, and highlights ongoing concerns about the ease with which individuals, even those without criminal records, can acquire multiple firearms.

Who Thinks What?

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Mayor Jacob Frey, and Governor Tim Walz characterize the shooting as an “unthinkable tragedy” and a “cruel and cowardly act,” strongly advocating for “concrete action” to address gun violence, moving beyond mere “thoughts and prayers.”

Annunciation principal Matthew DeBoer expresses profound grief, stating there is “nothing about today that can fill us with hope,” and urges the community to take “responsibility” to prevent any child, parent, or teacher from experiencing such trauma again.

A 23-year-old former student opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, killing two children and injuring 17 others, including 14 students and three elderly parishioners, during a start-of-school Mass. The shooter, identified as Robin Westman, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound following what authorities have described as a “deliberate act of violence.” The incident, which unfolded just before 8:30 a.m., has sparked widespread grief and renewed calls for action against gun violence.

The Incident Unfolds

The shooting began minutes into a worship service marking the first week of school, when the gunman approached the side of the building and fired a rifle through the church’s stained-glass windows. Ten-year-old Weston Halsne, a fifth grader, recounted hearing shots while sitting near the windows, describing the initial sounds before he sought cover under a pew.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that the shooter was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, with all three weapons believed to have been fired. Authorities also noted that some doors to the church had been barricaded from the outside with two-by-fours, suggesting a premeditated attack.

Victims and Injuries

At least two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed while seated in the pews during the Mass. In addition to the fatalities, 17 individuals sustained injuries, including 14 children and three parishioners in their 80s.

Weston Halsne described his friend being hit in the back while shielding him, calling his friend “really brave.” Patrick Scallen, a neighbor and alumnus of the school, rushed to the scene and found three visibly injured children, offering comfort until emergency medical services arrived.

Community Response and Witness Accounts

Chief O’Hara characterized the event as an “unthinkable tragedy,” condemning the “sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children” as absolutely incomprehensible. Parents frantically rushed to a reunification site, tearfully embracing their children after the traumatic event.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, visibly emotional, expressed sorrow over the children’s inability to attend school or church without fear of violence. He emphasized that the children “should be learning with their friends” and “playing on the playground.”

Shooter Details and Background

The shooter, Robin Westman, 23, was identified as a former student who graduated from Annunciation Catholic’s grade school in 2017. Authorities stated that Westman had lawfully purchased the weapons “recently” and did not appear to have a criminal history.

Calls for Action

Annunciation principal Matthew DeBoer, whose school year theme was “A future filled with hope,” expressed profound grief, asserting that “there’s nothing about today that can fill us with hope.” He urged the community to act, stating, “We as a community have a responsibility to make sure that no child, no parent, no teacher ever has to experience what we’ve experienced today – ever again.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined Mayor Frey in calling for concrete action to address gun violence, moving beyond mere “thoughts and prayers.” Frey notably stated, “Don’t just say this is about ‘thoughts and prayers’ right now. These kids were literally praying.”

The tragic events at Annunciation Catholic School have left the Minneapolis community in mourning, highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence on places of worship and education. Leaders and community members alike are now advocating for meaningful change to prevent such incomprehensible acts from recurring.