A shooting occurred at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the Midwestern United States, on April 27. According to local authorities, two students, aged 8 and 10, were killed and 17 others were injured. The suspect committed suicide. The new semester at the school had just begun on April 26, and students were attending morning mass at the time of the incident.
Authorities have identified the attacker as Robin Westman (23), a nearby resident. He is said to have been armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol and fired dozens of rounds into the church through its windows. The assailant had no notable criminal history, and police are investigating his motive. According to court records, the suspect identified himself as a woman and changed his name from Robert in 2020. The Minneapolis Police Chief told reporters that the attack was “an intentional act of violence against innocent children and worshippers.”
FBI Director Patel said the incident is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics. The school has approximately 395 students. President Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the FBI was on the scene and that the White House was monitoring the situation. According to police authorities, three other shootings have occurred in Minneapolis since the afternoon of the 26th, leaving three people dead. However, they do not appear to be related to the shooting on the 27th. According to a database of school shootings, there have been more than 140 shootings at elementary and junior high schools across the United States this year.
