US EditionSuspected Minneapolis church shooter identified as Robin Westman
The gunman, armed with three recently purchased weapons, left antisemitic messages and died by suicide after killing two children and injuring 17 during Mass, officials said.
- On Wednesday, a gunman opened fire during a school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, killing two children, ages eight and 10, and injuring 17 during the first week of the school term.
- Law enforcement identified the attacker as Robin Westman, a 23-year-old former pupil with no criminal history who legally obtained multiple firearms; investigators found deleted videos and writings revealing hatred of Christians and admiration for past mass shootings.
- Witnesses said the shooter fired dozens of rounds through stained-glass windows using a rifle, shotgun and pistol, while first responders treated and transported wounded children to local hospitals including Hennepin Healthcare.
- Federal investigators, including the FBI, have opened a probe, suspending classes at Annunciation and neighbouring schools while directing families to reunification sites.
- The incident adds to a grim tally this year, as Wednesday’s attack marks the fifth school shooting in 2025, renewing advocacy groups' calls for stricter gun-control proposals.
193 Articles
193 Articles
Associated Press News
Parents of students killed in Minneapolis church shooting share emotional pleas
The parents of two schoolchildren fatally shot in a Minneapolis church have spoken out, urging the community to address the root causes of school shootings.
The Independent
The Independent (US)8-year-old killed in Minnesota church shooting is identified
8-year-old killed in shooting loved family, fishing, and sports, father said in emotional press conference
First slain Minneapolis school shooting victim ID’d as Fletcher Merkel, 8, as heartbroken father speaks out
Fletcher Merkel, 8, and another 10-year-old student “were killed where they sat” in pews during a back-to-school Mass when 23-year-old Robin Westman opened fire through the stained glass windows of Annunciation Church and Catholic School on Wednesday.
'Give your kids an extra hug and kiss': Father of 8-year-old victim speaks out
Jesse Merkel, the father of 8-year-old Minneapolis shooting victim Fletcher Merkel, spoke out after the violent attack that killed his son. Merkel asked that his son be remembered for who he was, not the act of violence that ended his life.
Grieving father calls Minneapolis shooter a 'coward' who took life of his 8-year-old son Fletcher during Mass
Father of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel speaks out after his son was killed in a Minneapolis church shooting that left two children dead and 18 others injured.
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