2 children are dead and 17 people injured in Minneapolis school mass shooting; shooter died of self-inflicted gunshot wound

By NBC News

What we know about the shooting

• What we know about the shooting
• Two children, ages 8 and 10, are dead after a shooter opened fire during a morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic School on the south side of Minneapolis. Seventeen other people, including 14 children, were injured.
• The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, 23, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
• FBI Director Kash Patel identified the shooter as a male. Legal documents requesting a name change for Westman say they identified as a female.
• Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have at least one firearm from the shooter in their possession, according to an ATF source in Minneapolis. Suspect described obsession with mass shootings in journal

Suspect described obsession with mass shootings in journal

A YouTube page belonging to Westman, which authorities have said has been taken down, includes video of the suspect flipping through the pages of a journal. 

In excerpts from the journal, written using the Russian Cyrillic alphabet for English words, the suspect described her fascination with violence and obsession with mass shootings, particularly those that attacked schools. The suspect also discussed suicide, depression, their own racism and the particulars of carrying out a mass shooting.

Authorities are working to determine a motive and are reviewing the suspect’s writings and videos.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or go to 988lifeline.org, to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

The shooter bought three weapons used in the attack legally and recently

The suspect in today’s attack bought the three guns they were armed with legally, Minneapolis Police Chief Brain O’Hara said.

“I can tell you they were purchased recently,” O’Hara said at a news conference.

The weapons were a rifle, a pistol and a shotgun, O’Hara said.

Searches were being conducted at three residences in the Minneapolis metropolitan area related to the shooter, he said.

“Additional firearms are being recovered from those three residential locations as we speak,” O’Hara said.

Shooter's mother appears to have previously worked at Church of Annunciation

Westman’s mother appears to have previously worked at the Church of Annunciation.

The church had shared a Facebook post celebrating her retirement in August 2021. That post was deleted today in the wake of the shooting.

It’s not clear what her role was.

Writings on suspect’s weapons, magazines included ‘Kill Donald Trump’

Westman wrote numerous things on their weapons and magazines, including "Kill Donald Trump," video posted today just before the shooting shows.

Also written on the weapons and magazines were antisemitic writings and references to the Holocaust, other mass shooters and the Catholic Church.

Shooter's 'manifesto' timed to be released on YouTube

The shooter had worked up a "manifesto" in hopes of publicizing the shooting, officials said.

"We are also aware of a manifesto that the shooter had timed to be released on YouTube," Minneapolis Police Chief Brain O’Hara told reporters.

The manifesto appeared to show the shooter "at the scene and included some disturbing writings (and) that content has since been taken down with the assistance of the FBI," O'Hara added.

3 elderly parishioners were wounded in the shooting, police say

Three parishioners in their 80s were among the 17 injured in today's shooting, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told reporters at a press conference this afternoon.

O’Hara said that the three elderly parishioners were attending mass at the time of the shooting. The other 14 people wounded were children ranging in age from 6 to 15 years old.

All of the wounded victims are expected to survive their injuries.

Mayor defends trans community

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey defended the trans community, sayin those who direct hate towards trans people have "lost their sense of common humanity."

"I have heard about a whole lot of hate that’s being directed at our trans community," Frey told reporters. "Anybody who is using this ... as an opportunity to villainize our trans community, or any other community out there, has lost their sense of common humanity. "

Church of Annunciation says its community is navigating 'impossible situation'

The Church of Annunciation says its students and staff are navigating an "impossible situation" following the shooting at its school this morning.

In its first statement following the tragic shooting, the church commended law enforcement and its staff for acting quickly to protect students. Staff moved students under pews "within seconds" of the gunfire breaking out.

"Tragically, we lost two of our beloved students before the scene was secured," the church said.

Some of the wounded have been treated and released, the church said. The statement went on to asked that others "lift up these families and these children in prayer."

"In this time of darkness, let us commit to being the Light to our children, each other and our community," the statement said. "We will rebuild our future filled with hope — together."

Parents of suspected shooter 'demonstrably upset,' neighbor says

Law enforcement visited the home of the suspect this morning and soon the parents were seen on the sidewalk of this quiet residential street, shoeless, speaking to them, according to Stacey Czeck, who lives two doors down from the suspect’s family.

Czeck said the parents spoke with law enforcement for at least an hour. At one point, she could see the father of the suspect sit down on the sidewalk and lower his head into his hands.

“He was demonstrably upset,” Czeck said. The mother, who also appeared upset, put her hand on her husband’s head, she said.

She described the family as friendly, with the mother always riding a bike with a basket on it and waving hello. She described them as “family-oriented” because she heard them on their back porch often. She saw the suspect from time to time but did not have interactions with them.

“In these situations, I think your mind always obviously — obviously — goes to the victims and the victims' families. But you know, for me, seeing that, my heart is also going out to them. They just lost their son.”

Shooting to be investigated as domestic terrorism and hate crime, FBI director says

The Annunciation Catholic School shooting will be investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics, FBI Director Kash Patel said.

Gov. Walz orders flags to fly at half-staff for shooting victims

Gov. Tim Walz is ordering all of the U.S. and Minnesota flags at state facilities to fly at half-staff to honor the victims of the Annunciation Catholic School shooting.

Private citizens and businesses are also encouraged to lower their flags, according to a release from Walz's office.

“Minnesota is heartbroken by the senseless shooting that took place this morning,” Walz said. “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.”

Neighbor ran to school after hearing gunshots, stayed with injured kids

Pat Scallen, who lives half a block from Annunciation Catholic School, told NBC News he ran to the school after hearing gunshots.

After he and his wife heard the noise, they thought it might be construction. As the sound continued, they started to think differently. "My wife said, those have got to be shots, and they sound like they're coming from the school," Scallen recalled.

Scallen dropped everything and immediately ran to the school to help. "It was eerily quite when I got there. I did see a riffle magazine on the ground," Scallen told NBC News.

Children then starting coming out and he saw three injured children. He stayed with them, one boy and two girls who were shot, until EMT's came. "I didn't want to leave those kids alone," Scallen said.

Vatican sends telegram to Minnesota expressing Pope Leo's sorrow

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis was sent a telegram today from the Holy See that passed along Pope Leo XIV's condolences following the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.

The telegram was written on behalf of the pontiff by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, according to the Vatican. Parolin wrote that Leo sent "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." 

He also prays for those wounded, the first responders and all of those caring for them, the Vatican said.

President orders flags lowered to half-staff

President Donald Trump ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in tribute to the victims of the "senseless acts of violence perpetrated" in Minneapolis.

This will be in effect until sunset on Sunday.

Youth minister says shooting lasted '2 minutes'

Ellie Mertens, a youth pastor at Annunciation Catholic School, was sitting in a pew next to a window when the shooter was outside and began opening fire.

"It was an automatic gun and I was near kids and we all got down," Mertens told NBC News. "And it lasted two minutes, and we were able to evacuate."

She credits the fact that she was sitting at the pew for saving her life.

Minnesota teams offer condolences for victims of 'tragic and senseless' shooting

The Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins, the local professional football and baseball teams, released statements expressing heartbreak following this morning's shooting.

"The taking of innocent lives in a place of learning and worship is incomprehensible," the Twins' statement said.

The Vikings shared similar sentiments in a statement on X, writing that the team was "devastated" by this "senseless and cowardly act."

"We are praying for the injured, those who witnessed the attack, and the first responders who were on the scene providing care and support during this tragedy," the NFL team said.

Children’s Minnesota Hospital treating 7 kids

Seven children, between ages 9 and 16, were rushed to Children’s Minnesota Hospital. One of those young patients has been discharged.

"Our thoughts are with all the victims, their families, and loved ones in our communities who are impacted by yet another senseless act of violence," a hospital statement said.

5th grader says his friend was shot shielding him from bullets

Doha Madani and Halle Lukasiewicz

Weston Halsne, a fifth grade student at Annunciation Catholic School, says his friend Victor was shot while lying on top of him during the shooting at their morning Mass.

Weston told NBC affiliate KARE that he ran under a pew while shots came through the stained glass windows and covered his head, an active shooting tactic that the school practiced on a regular basis. But Weston added that they had never practiced an active shooter drill in the church.

10-year-old says friend was shot laying on top of him

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"My friend Victor, like saved me, though, because he laid on top of me, but he got hit," the 10-year-old boy said.

Victor was taken to the hospital, but Weston believes that "he's OK" hours after the shooting. Weston described his friend as "really brave" and hopes that all the injured people who were taken to the hospital are OK.

Gun safety advocate: 'How many more of our babies have to die?'

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, said the Minnesota shooting was particularly poignant in light of schools coming back into session all over America.

“As a mom who just sent my little ones back to school and as a woman of faith, I am devastated that yet again children are dead and more are fighting for their lives after being gunned down at school and in a church,” Ferrell-Zabala said in a statement.

“How many more of our babies have to die before Congress finally gets these weapons of war off our streets?”

Suspect identified as Robin Westman, multiple sources say

Tom Winter, Andrew Blankstein, Jonathan Dienst, Michael Kosnar and Marc Santia

The suspect in today's shooting has been identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, multiple senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told NBC News.

Police have said publicly that the suspect is in their early 20s with a limited criminal history.

Court documents show Westman filed to change their name in 2019.

NBC News has confirmed with those law enforcement officials that the suspect left behind videos posted online with writings that reference suicide, "extremely violent thoughts and ideas," an apology to their family, and a handwritten sketch of the interior layout of a church. It's unclear whether that church was the one at Annunciation Catholic School.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

Minneapolis church shooting suspect identified as Robin Westman

1 child in stable condition at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital

Matthew Mata and David K. Li

One of the wounded children was taken to M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital and is in stable condition, the hospital said in a statement.

"All of us at Fairview Health Services are heartbroken by the tragic shooting in Minneapolis this morning," the Fairview statement said. "Our thoughts are with the children, families, educators, and community members impacted by this senseless violence."  

Witness and former student describes emergency vehicle response

Brianna Lane, a former Annunciation Catholic School student, described seeing police cars and emergency vehicles pass by on their way to work.

“We knew it was bad when we saw the second cop car flying through,” Lane told NBC News.

Lane, a former student and parishioner at Annunciation, said that the shooting "hits differently when it’s your own community."

"This being the first Wednesday, you know, I thought all the kids are probably at Mass," Lane said. "And they were” 

'Hug your kids close,' Gov. Tim Walz posts on X after shootinG

Gov. Tim Walz said his state is "heartbroken" and urged them all to embrace their children.

"From the officers responding, to the clergy and teachers providing comfort, to the hospital staff saving lives, we will get through this together," Walz wrote in a post on X. "Hug your kids close."

Nearby resident heard long series of loud 'pop' noises

Andrew Winchell was on his porch preparing to drive his wife to work when he heard a series of piercingly loud noises that lasted for what felt like a full two minutes.

"It was this incredibly loud and repeated 'pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop,' then a pause, then another 'pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.' It just kept going and going," said Winchell, a 42-year-old construction worker and stay-at-home dad.

Winchell, who lives about a block away from Annunciation, thought the "pop" noises were too loud to be coming from something like a roofing gun. When he eventually learned that there had been a shooting at Annunciation, he was deeply disturbed.

"I can see the bell tower of the church from my house right now," Winchell said in a phone interview. "It was all happening right there."

Witness described 'terrifying' shooting scene

Madee Brandt, a nanny who works near the shooting scene, pulled into the neighborhood just as police arrived and children fled.

"I was thankful to see kids coming out unharmed, safe, but just [seeing] the looks on some of their faces ... just the screams coming from the moms who didn't know where their kids are," Brandt told reporters.

'Heartbreaking' scenes at Minneapolis shooting

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"You see videos online, but it does not compare to seeing it and witnessing it in person. That was rough."

Brandt's car is still within the locked-down zone, prompting her mother to come and get her, bringing their dog to the scene for comfort.

"It is terrifying," the nanny said while petting the dog.

This is the 5th school shooting of the year, according to NBC News tracker

Today's tragedy marked the fifth school shooting of 2025, according to a school shooting tracker by NBC News.

The other shootings occurred at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood, California, on May 2; Florida State University in Tallahassee on April 17; Pasadena Memorial High School in Texas on Feb. 1; and Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 22.

Photo: Minneapolis mayor reacts outside church