Two children dead after gun attack during Mass in US

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the incident at Annunciation Catholic Church as an “unthinkable tragedy”. The shooting took place during a Mass for the start of the parish school’s year, Mr O’Hara said.

“During the Mass, a gunman approached the building on the outside and began firing a rifle, [and] shooting through the windows,” the chief said. “He struck children and worshippers that were inside the building.”

The shooter was armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, Mr O’Hara said. All three of the weapons were fired during the incident. The shooter committed suicide after the attack, the police chief confirmed.

Annunciation Catholic School principal Matt DeBoer expressed his sorrow, but also praised the rapid actions of teachers.  

“I’m so sorry this happened to us today. Within seconds of this situation beginning, our teachers were heroes. Children were ducked down. Adults were protecting children. Older children were protecting younger children,” he said. 

The two children killed were aged 8 and 10. Fourteen other children and three elderly parishioners were wounded, CNN reported.

The FBI identified the shooter as Robin Westman, 23. The suspect was a former student at the school. Mr O’Hara said Westman had released a “manifesto” on YouTube that “included some disturbing writings”.

John Miller, CNN chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst, who read the writings, said Westman “has been depressed for a long time” and had been “planning to do this for a long time”. Westman had written homages on rifles to people such as the gunman who carried out the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, Mr Miller added.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who leads the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, said “My heart is broken as I think about students, teachers, clergy and parishioners and the horror they witnessed in a church, a place where we should feel safe”.

Archbishop Hebda expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV, who sent his condolences after the attack, and all those around the world who have offered prayers following the shooting.

The archbishop noted the Annunciation School shooting comes just 24 hours after another shooting near Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis that reportedly left one dead and six injured.  

FULL STORY

LIVE UPDATES: Shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis (CNA)

Archbishop Hebda after Annunciation School shooting: ‘My heart is broken’ (CNA)

Live Updates: Minneapolis shooting leaves at least 2 children killed and 17 people injured in Annunciation Catholic School (CNN)

Minneapolis Catholic school shooting leaves 2 children dead, 17 people injured (CBS)

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