The FBI is investigating a school shooting in Minneapolis as a hate crime and act of domestic terrorism directed at Catholics.
The attack left two children, aged eight and ten, dead and 17 others injured when a gunman opened fire on Annunciation Church during a school Mass on Wednesday morning.
Police identified the attacker as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Authorities said Westman used multiple firearms, including a rifle and shotgun, firing dozens of rounds from outside the church windows. A smoke bomb was also recovered near the site.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the incident as a calculated act of violence against children and worshippers.
Local police are leading the case with federal support, while investigators continue to search for a motive.
A scheduled social media post written by the suspect was discovered and deleted shortly after the attack.
Annunciation Church, in southern Minneapolis, operates a school for children aged five to fourteen. Witnesses reported hearing rapid bursts of gunfire as panic spread inside the church.
One child who survived told local media that his friend shielded him from bullets, sustaining injuries in the process.
Community leaders and global figures have shared condolences.
Pope Leo XIV said he was deeply saddened by the loss of young lives, while President Donald Trump ordered flags at the White House to be flown at half-mast.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said his state had received offers of assistance from federal authorities and warned that such tragedies were happening too often across the nation.
Westman’s family ties to the school have also been noted. His mother previously worked at Annunciation before retiring in 2021.
Police continue to review evidence, including items seized from the scene, as they seek to understand the planning behind the attack.
The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for stronger measures to protect schools and faith communities from acts of violence.