A Catholic church in Minneapolis was the target of a horrific act of violence Wednesday morning when a trans-identifying individual opened fire during a school mass, killing two young students and injuring several others. The attack has shocked the local community and is being investigated by federal officials as a hate crime and domestic terror incident.
Authorities identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, a biological male who previously went by the name Robert before identifying as female. Westman reportedly began the attack by firing a weapon through the stained-glass windows of Annunciation Catholic Church as children gathered for a routine morning service. School staff acted quickly, sheltering students under pews as gunfire erupted.
Despite the efforts of church personnel, two students — aged just 8 and 10 — were fatally shot before police secured the scene. Seventeen others were wounded, with some in critical condition. Westman then turned the gun on himself in the church parking lot, according to local law enforcement.
The FBI confirmed that over 100 rounds were fired and that multiple firearms, including a shotgun, rifle, and pistol, were used in the assault. The weapons bore disturbing messages including anti-Christian slurs, antisemitic threats, and politically charged graffiti. One message reportedly scrawled on the shooter’s firearm read “Kill Donald Trump,” while others included threats directed at Jews and Christians alike.
Officials also revealed that the suspect had placed two-by-fours in the door handles to trap victims inside the church while firing. The level of planning and preparation has raised alarms at the federal level, with FBI Director Kash Patel stating that the attack is being classified as both a hate crime against Catholics and an act of domestic terrorism.
Westman’s personal writings and digital content are now part of an ongoing federal investigation. Early findings indicate the shooter left behind journals filled with violent imagery, antisemitic rhetoric, and expressions of rage against religious institutions. One entry read, “If I carry out a racially motivated attack, it would be most likely against filthy Zionist Jews.” Other content reportedly glorified past mass shooters and mocked their victims.
Community leaders expressed grief and anger at the carnage. Annunciation Catholic School Principal Matthew DeBoer and Church Pastor Father Dennis Zehren issued a joint statement urging unity and prayer.
“We are navigating an impossible situation. No words can capture what we are going through,” the letter said. “But we will navigate this — together. Please lift up these families and these children in prayer.”
Vice President JD Vance released a statement expressing condolences to the victims and pledging federal support for Minneapolis law enforcement. President Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff and instructed the Department of Justice to prioritize the investigation.
Westman’s mother reportedly worked at the school and had been featured in church bulletins in previous years. Authorities are examining whether there were any signs of mental illness or prior threats made by the suspect in the lead-up to the shooting.
This marks one of the deadliest attacks on a Catholic institution in recent U.S. history. Federal agents are conducting interviews, analyzing digital devices, and reviewing security footage to determine if others were involved or aware of the shooter’s intentions.
More than 1,000 residents gathered for a candlelight vigil at a nearby park Wednesday night. Church members, families, and students held hands, prayed, and mourned the two children whose lives were taken in what is now being described as a hate-fueled massacre.
The post Church Targeted By Trans-Identifying Shooter Asks For Prayer During ‘Impossible Situation’ appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
