The Minneapolis School Shooting: A Tragic Attack and the FBI’s Investigation
On the morning of August 27, 2025, a horrific mass shooting unfolded at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, leaving two young children, aged 8 and 10, dead and 17 others injured, including 14 children and three adults in their 80s.
The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire through the windows of the school’s church during a morning Mass marking the first week of the academic year. The attack, described as a “deliberate act of violence” by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, has shocked the nation and prompted a robust FBI investigation into the incident as both a potential hate crime and an act of domestic terrorism.
Details of the Attack and Its Location
The shooting occurred at approximately 8:27 a.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church, which houses a pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school in a leafy residential and commercial neighborhood about five miles south of downtown Minneapolis. The assailant, dressed in black, approached the church’s side windows and fired dozens of rounds from a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, targeting children and worshippers seated in the pews.
A possible smoke bomb was also found at the scene, though no explosives were discovered. Westman later died by suicide in the rear of the church. The swift response of heroic staff, who moved students under pews and evacuated them within minutes, likely prevented further casualties. All surviving victims, including seven children in critical condition, are expected to recover.
FBI Investigation: Hate Crime and Domestic Terrorism
The FBI, under Director Kash Patel, is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics, as announced in a statement on X. The agency is analyzing a manifesto Westman reportedly scheduled for release on YouTube, which contained “disturbing writings” and was removed with FBI assistance.
The manifesto included videos showing weapons, bullets, and drawings, with messages scrawled on firearms, such as “kill Donald Trump” and references to other mass shooters, alongside racial and anti-gay slurs. Despite the FBI’s classification, Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara has emphasized that no definitive motive has been established, and investigations are ongoing to explore any connections between Westman and the church, including unconfirmed reports that his mother worked at the school.
The FBI defines domestic terrorism as acts intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or influence government policy through violence, and a hate crime as a criminal act motivated by bias against a protected group, such as religion or gender identity.
The Shooter: Background and Firearms
Robin Westman, born Robert Westman, was a 23-year-old resident of Richfield, Minnesota, with no known criminal history. Court documents reveal that Westman legally changed his name in 2020, identifying as female. Authorities believe he acted alone and legally purchased the rifle, shotgun, and pistol used in the attack, all of which were acquired recently.
Additional firearms were recovered from residences linked to Westman, and police are searching four locations, including the church and a vehicle believed to be his. Social media accounts associated with Westman contained videos of diary entries describing plans to target a school assembly and avoid armed parents, alongside nihilistic writings and drawings of the church’s sanctuary.
There is no confirmed information regarding whether Westman was on medication, particularly any with severe side effects, as this aspect of the investigation has not been publicly disclosed.
Victims and Community Response
The two children killed, aged 8 and 10, were shot while seated in the pews, their families notified amid unimaginable grief. The 17 injured victims included 14 children aged 6 to 15 and three elderly parishioners. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the attack an “unspeakable tragedy,” urging action on gun violence and condemning attempts to vilify the transgender community, emphasizing shared humanity. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, President Donald Trump, and Pope Leo XIV expressed condolences, with Trump ordering flags at half-staff until August 31. The community has rallied, with parents and leaders expressing shock and calling for unity, while the Archdiocese of Minneapolis provides support to the school and parish.