A horrific act of violence pierced the heart of the Catholic community in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning when a gunman opened fire through the stained-glass windows of Annunciation Catholic Church during a back-to-school Mass. Two children, ages eight and ten, were killed while kneeling in the pews, and 17 others were injured, including 14 children.
“This is terrible. This is evil. I don’t know how you defend against this,” said one parent who witnessed the attack, describing how the shooter “pepper-sprayed through the stained-glass windows into the building, 50 to 100 shots” (The U.S. Sun).
The Reality of Evil
Law enforcement later identified the gunman as Robin Westman, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Videos posted online hours before the attack revealed disturbing obsessions with previous mass shooters and chilling images of weapons scrawled with hateful messages, including “for the children” and “kill Donald Trump” (New York Post).
According to KARE 11, Robin Westman was previously known as Robert Westman and was a man who identified as a woman. His mother, Mary Grace Westman was an employee at the Annunciation school but is reported to have been retired.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Westman, armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun, deliberately targeted the children during the Mass. The shooter had even attempted to barricade the doors with wood before firing through the windows (The U.S. Sun).
Though investigators are still uncovering details, the attack reveals the spiritual reality Catholics have always known: evil is not an abstract idea but an active force that seeks to destroy innocence. The murder of children in the very act of prayer is nothing less than an attack of the devil against the Body of Christ.
A Scene of Horror and Grief
Students ranging from preschool to eighth grade were gathered with their teachers and families in prayer when the attack began shortly after 8:15 a.m. “Children are dead,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “There are families that have a deceased child. You cannot put into words the gravity, the tragedy or the absolute pain of this situation” (The U.S. Sun).
Photos and eyewitness accounts revealed parents clinging to their children in tears as they were evacuated. One boy whispered to his father, “I don’t feel safe,” while another child held tightly to a stuffed animal as he was led away from the scene (The U.S. Sun).
Doctors confirmed that nine pediatric patients, ages six to fourteen, are being treated at local hospitals. Seven remain in critical condition.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he was “praying for our kids and teachers,” and President Donald Trump was briefed on the tragedy. Yet the deepest prayers rise from the grieving families themselves, who now mourn children lost to senseless violence.
A Call to Prayer and Hope
As Catholics, we are called to unite our prayers with theirs. The tragedy at Annunciation is a reminder that our schools and churches are not immune to the chaos of the world. Still, Christ remains our light in the darkness. In the face of this evil, the Church proclaims the hope of the Resurrection and entrusts the innocent souls of the slain children to God’s eternal mercy.
“While the world grieves,” as one parishioner said while leaving the scene, “we know these children are now with Jesus.”
