| This is a heartbreaking day for our City. Our hearts are with the students, families, educators, and clergy of Annunciation Catholic Church and School.
The entire Minneapolis City Council stands united in the face of this unspeakable attack on our children. We stand with the students, families, educators, clergy, and our entire community grieving not only the lives lost, but also the loss of our sense of safety and security that should come with going to school and gathering in places of worship. Our schools and our faith communities are supposed to be sanctuaries, not places where people fear for their lives.
This tragedy is something that has become far too common in our country. Every level of government must act to ensure that these preventable tragedies never happen again. We are committed to working with local, state, federal government, and all other partners to pass meaningful changes to our laws that will make our community safer. Thoughts and prayers cannot be our only response.
We condemn those who would use this tragedy to divide our community. In this moment, we must be united in grief, healing, and action. We will continue to stand together with our entire community as we navigate this devastating moment together.
Thank you to all first-responders, both law enforcement and emergency medical services, 911 dispatchers, for their quick response to the call and immediate intervention. Their action no doubt prevented this tragedy from becoming even worse.
Please hold our city in your hearts as we grieve, begin the healing process, and recommit ourselves to creating a safer future.
 There will be a vigil tonight at Lynnhurst Park (1345 W Minnehaha Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55419) from 8:00–9:00 PM for the victims of the Annunciation Catholic School shooting, organized by Moms Demand Action and Protect MN.
Please be mindful as you make your way to the park. Parking in the immediate area is very limited. We encourage those who are able to take public transportation, bike, or walk. Out of respect for the neighbors and the solemn nature of the event, we ask attendees not to gather or loiter in the park before or after.
There are support services and resources available for all impacted by this tragedy. If you are in need of support, please do not hesitate to reach out.
● Family Response and Stabilization Service: Phone: 612-979-9511 (Available 24/7 phone or in-person visit)
● Cope Mobile Crisis Response: In Hennepin County: 612-596-1223 (Available 24/7 phone, virtual, or in-person visit)
● Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (Available 24/7 phone)
● Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 or text AYUDA for help in Spanish (Available 24/7 phone)
For emergencies, please call 911.
Vigils and donations
The City encourages the public to attend various vigils being planned tonight by community organizations in honor of the victims.
In addition, donating money is the best way for members of the community to support the victims of the shooting. In coordination with the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Foundation has established a text-to-donate line. The public can text ACF1 to 41444. The Minneapolis Foundation is hosting this fund and will work with the Annunciation community in the coming days and weeks to equitably distribute the funds to those affected.
We as a City Council and City Government are in contact with Minneapolis Public Schools and other schools on updates. We are having discussions to ensure the safety of our students, families, and educators ahead of back to school. Below are some updates we received from Minneapolis Public Schools:
With MPS starting school next week, we do have several back-to-school events scheduled for later today. We have been consulting with individual schools to make decisions about what makes sense for their community.
For your awareness, at this time, the following school events will be rescheduled as noted. The respective school communities have been notified of these changes.
- Field Elementary School has rescheduled for tomorrow from 4 - 6 pm.
- Justice Page Middle School has rescheduled for tomorrow from 4 - 6 pm.
- Lyndale Elementary School has rescheduled for tomorrow from 2:30 - 4 p.m.
- Lake Harriet Upper School has rescheduled for tomorrow from 4 - 6 pm.
- Southwest High School's event has been cancelled for tonight and will be rescheduled
Read statement from Superintendent Sayles Adam.
Update: Two children dead, 17 other people injured in shooting at Minneapolis church
Suspected shooter identified; used legal firearms to carry out crime
|
|
|
|
|
August 27, 2025 (Minneapolis) – City and public safety officials released new information in the shooting at the Church of the Annunciation on Wednesday morning.
Updated details on the investigation
- The victims:
- Two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed in today’s shooting. They were both students at the Annunciation School.
- Fourteen other children, between the ages 6 and 15, were injured.
- Three adult parishioners attending the mass at the time of the shooting were also injured.
- Police have identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman. Police say the shooter used three different firearms to carry out the act, and they believe Westman acted alone. The guns used in the incident were purchased legally.
- Four search warrants are currently being executed at the church and three other locations around the metro. Additional firearms have been recovered as part of these searches.
- Police say a motive is unclear. A suspected manifesto allegedly posted by the shooter was taken down by law enforcement.
Resources:
Previous info:
Two children are dead and 17 other people are injured after a suspected shooter fired through the windows of the Church of the Annunciation (509 W. 54th St.) in Minneapolis during a morning mass service to mark the beginning of the school year.
Police say an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old died, and initial reports indicate 17 other people are injured. Fourteen of the 17 are children. Two of the 17 people injured are in critical condition.
Families of the students are asked to go to the Annunciation School for reunification and additional resources (525 W. 54th St.).
“There are no words that can capture the horror and tragedy of the unspeakable act of evil at Annunciation Catholic Church. Children have been killed, more are injured, and our community is shaken. Right now, our entire city needs to wrap these families in love and support. The City is setting up a family assistance center to provide them with resources and care,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “We are a Minneapolis family. Don't think about these children as someone else's kids. Think of them as your own. This was their first week of school. They should be laughing and goofing off in the hallways right now. They should be learning and playing with their friends on the playground.”
Investigation and Details
Just before 8:30 a.m., Minneapolis police responded to a call about an active shooting at the Church. The shooter, whose identity has not been released, approached the side of the building and started shooting through the windows of the church. Police say the shooter died at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. There is currently no safety threat to the public at this time, and a motive for the incident is unknown.
Police were on scene immediately to render emergency first aid to the victims and rescue other children and adults who were hiding in parts of the building. A vehicle believed to belong to the shooter will be searched, along with other areas known to police.
“Our entire community has been traumatized by this attack,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “Our hearts are broken by the sheer cruelty of this tragedy and deliberate act against kids. MPD and the broader law enforcement community share in this immense grief with our community, the Annunciation parish and the families of the victims.”
Multiple Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agents and crime scene teams are assisting with the investigation.
Statement from Minneapolis City Council Members Emily Koski and Linea Palmisano who’s wards border the shooting scene:
“This is a heartbreaking day for our city. Today, we must come together in compassion and support for those directly impacted. Our hearts are with the students, families, educators, and clergy of Annunciation. Please hold our community in your thoughts as we navigate this tragedy together.
“We want to thank the first responders whose quick and courageous actions contained the threat and prevented this tragedy from becoming even worse.”
|
|
|
|
|
