Minneapolis Catholic school shooting injured victims will survive: officials

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A shooter opened fire Wednesday morning during Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school, killing two children and injuring 17 other people before killing himself, officials said.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter — armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol — approached the side of the church and shot through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School.

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The school was evacuated, and students’ families were later directed to a “reunification zone” at the school. President Donald Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in separate social media posts that they had been briefed on the shooting.

I’ve been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information. The BCA and State Patrol are on scene.

I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.

— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) August 27, 2025

All injured children are expected to survive, police chief says

O’Hara said all of the victims are expected to survive, though they have a range of injuries.

O’Hara also said dozens of officers responded to the shooting and many of them — as well as the children and staff present in the church — are deeply traumatized by what they saw.

Authorities are aware of video the shooter posted online, O’Hara says

O’Hara said the content, which the shooter had timed for release on YouTube, has been taken down and is under active review.

The shooter lawfully purchased the firearms used in shooting, police chief says

O’Hara identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, adding that Westman had no prior criminal history and law enforcement believes he acted alone.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sits on steps of the Annunciation Church’s school as police response to a reported mass shooting, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

‘Minnesotans will not step away’

“What happened here today will not be gone. Minnesotans will not step away. We’re standing with this community,” Walz said during the news conference.

He added that violence is all too common across the country and “it’s Minnesota’s day today.”

“It’s my strongest desire that no state, no community, no school ever experiences a day like this,” he said.

Walz says students were met with ‘evil and horror and death’

“There’s no words that’s going to ease the pain of the families today,” the governor said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Walz called the church a place founded on community, service and family.

Law enforcement officers gather outside the Annunciation Church’s school in response to a reported mass shooting, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minneapolis shooting being investigated as domestic terrorism

In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said the shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.

Walz orders US and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state buildings

The governor also urged individuals, businesses and other organizations to do so. He did not set a date for raising flags.