FBI Investigates Minneapolis School Shooting as Anti-Catholic Hate Crime

On August 27, 2025, a tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis claimed the lives of two young children and injured 17 others, prompting the FBI to investigate the incident as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics. The attack, which unfolded during a morning Mass, has left the community reeling and sparked a nationwide conversation about gun violence, school safety, and religious intolerance. The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, leaving authorities searching for a motive. This article explores the details of the incident, the ongoing investigation, and the broader implications for Minneapolis and the nation.

The shooting occurred just before 8:00 AM local time at Annunciation Church, which houses a school for students aged 5 to 14. The attacker fired dozens of rounds through the church’s stained-glass windows using a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, targeting children and worshippers gathered for the first Mass of the school year. The incident, described by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara as a “deliberate act of violence against innocent children,” has drawn condemnation from local and national leaders, including President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. As investigators delve into the suspect’s background and potential motives, the tragedy underscores the persistent challenge of gun violence in American schools.

Details of the Minneapolis School Shooting

The attack at Annunciation Catholic School began just before 8:00 AM on August 27, 2025, when Robin Westman approached the church’s exterior and opened fire through the windows. Armed with a legally purchased rifle, shotgun, and pistol, the 23-year-old suspect unleashed a barrage of gunfire, killing an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old seated in the pews and injuring 17 others, including 14 children aged 6 to 15 and three elderly parishioners in their 80s. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported that all injured victims are expected to survive, though several remain in critical condition at local hospitals. A possible smoke bomb was also found at the scene, adding to the chaos of the attack.

Witnesses described a scene of terror as gunfire shattered the morning Mass. PJ Mudd, a nearby resident working from home, told the Wall Street Journal he heard “boom, boom, boom” and initially mistook the sounds for something else before realizing it was a shooting. Upon rushing to the church, he saw three magazine cartridges on the ground, evidence of the scale of the attack. A 10-year-old survivor recounted to CBS affiliate WCCO how his friend, Victor, saved his life by lying on top of him, taking a bullet in the back. “I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s okay,” the boy said, highlighting the bravery amid the tragedy.

FBI’s Investigation and Hate Crime Allegations

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X that the agency is treating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics, a classification that has drawn significant attention. “The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics,” Patel stated, confirming the deaths of two children and injuries to 14 others and three adults. The investigation is being led by the Minneapolis Police Department, with support from federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which has recovered at least one of the suspect’s firearms for analysis.

Authorities have not yet established a clear motive, but investigators are examining a manifesto Westman scheduled to publish online during the attack. Described by Chief O’Hara as containing “disturbing writings,” the document was removed from YouTube with FBI assistance and is under review for clues about the shooter’s intentions. The suspect’s familiarity with the church is also under scrutiny, as Westman is believed to have attended Annunciation Catholic School, and their mother, Mary Grace Westman, worked in the church’s business office until her retirement in 2021. This connection raises questions about whether personal ties to the institution played a role in the attack.

Community and National Response

The shooting has elicited heartfelt responses from local and national leaders. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, speaking at a press conference, described the incident as “all too common” across the country, expressing hope that no community would endure such a tragedy again. President Donald Trump, after speaking with Walz, ordered U.S. flags at the White House and federal buildings to be flown at half-staff until August 31, 2025, as a mark of respect for the victims. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, issued a statement expressing profound sadness and offering prayers for the victims’ families, calling the attack a “terrible tragedy.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, visibly emotional, condemned the violence and called for action beyond “thoughts and prayers.” “These kids were literally praying,” Frey told NBC News, emphasizing the sanctity of schools and churches. “It’s on public servants and leaders to not just have words but also have actions.” The Annunciation Catholic School community, led by Principal Matt DeBoer, praised the staff’s heroic response, noting that teachers and older students shielded younger children, preventing an even worse outcome. “Our teachers were heroes,” DeBoer said, calling his staff the “dream team” and vowing to recover from the nightmare.

The Broader Context of Gun Violence

The Annunciation Catholic School shooting marks the 146th school shooting in the United States in 2025, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, and the fifth such incident in the year, per NBC News. This tragic event is part of a string of violent incidents in Minneapolis, with four deadly shootings reported in the city within a 24-hour period. The recurrence of school shootings has reignited debates over gun control, school safety measures, and the societal factors contributing to such acts. Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara noted that the suspect’s weapons were legally purchased, raising questions about the accessibility of firearms.

The investigation is also exploring potential ideological motivations, particularly in light of the FBI’s hate crime designation. A video posted by Westman, analyzed by BBC Verify, showed hand-drawn sketches of the church’s interior labeled in Cyrillic, suggesting premeditation. The suspect’s gender identity has also surfaced in discussions, with legal documents indicating a name change from Robert to Robin Westman in 2020, reflecting their identification as female. However, Mayor Frey urged against politicizing this aspect, stating, “Anybody using this to villainize our trans community has lost their sense of common humanity.”

Impact on the Annunciation Community

Annunciation Catholic School, located in a quiet residential area of southern Minneapolis, serves approximately 395 students from preschool to eighth grade. The school’s faith-based curriculum emphasizes community engagement, making the attack particularly jarring for its tight-knit community. Parents and students recounted harrowing experiences, with one mother, Renee Lego, telling the Minneapolis Star Tribune that her son mistook the gunfire for fireworks before witnessing people fall. Father Erich Rutten, a local priest, described parents “wailing and crying” as they reunited with their children, some collapsing in grief.

Hospitals, including Hennepin Healthcare and M Health Fairview, treated the injured, with seven patients in critical condition and four requiring surgery. Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine at Hennepin Healthcare, described the chaos of the “mass casualty situation,” with 10 patients, including eight children, admitted to his facility. The Red Cross and chaplains provided support at the scene, where yellow police tape and media crews underscored the gravity of the event. Community members, including neighbors like Bill Bienemann, a long-time parishioner, expressed shock, with Bienemann initially doubting the sounds were gunfire.

Ongoing Investigation and Future Implications

The Minneapolis Police Department, with federal support, is conducting a thorough investigation, executing search warrants at the church and three residences linked to Westman. Additional firearms were recovered, and authorities are analyzing the suspect’s social media activity, including now-deleted YouTube videos that may provide insight into their mindset. The absence of bullet casings inside the church suggests the attack was primarily conducted from outside, possibly indicating a targeted assault on the congregation. The barricading of church doors with wooden planks further points to premeditation.

The shooting has amplified calls for action on gun violence, with Mayor Frey and Governor Walz emphasizing the need for systemic change. The tragedy’s classification as an anti-Catholic hate crime has also sparked discussions about religious intolerance, though Chief O’Hara stressed that the investigation remains open to all possibilities. As the community mourns, the nation grapples with the recurring nightmare of school shootings, with Annunciation Catholic School now added to a grim list. The bravery of students, staff, and first responders, coupled with the outpouring of support, offers a glimmer of hope amid the devastation.