Community mourns after shooter kills 2 children in Minneapolis shooting: Live updates John Bacon, Corey Schmidt and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY August 28, 2025 at 6:08 AM Community mourns after shooter kills 2 children in Minneapolis shooting: Live updates MINNEAPOLIS − The city was mourning the vio...
- - Community mourns after shooter kills 2 children in Minneapolis shooting: Live updates
John Bacon, Corey Schmidt and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY August 28, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Community mourns after shooter kills 2 children in Minneapolis shooting: Live updates
MINNEAPOLIS − The city was mourning the violent death of two children while authorities on Thursday, Aug. 28, tried to determine the motive for a suspect who opened fire through stained glass windows at a Catholic Church in a rampage that left 17 others wounded as they prayed.
Minnesotans gathered late Wednesday, Aug. 27, for a prayer vigil in remembrance of the victims. Attendees sat in folding plastic chairs, on bleachers, and stood along the sides to hear Archbishop Bernard Hebda speak in the Academy of Holy Angels High School gymnasium that night.
"I'm not usually that emotional, but I was genuinely shaking," said Elaina Polding, 17, who goes to youth group at Annunciation Church.
'Absolutely breaks my heart': Minneapolis community mourns after deadly shooting: Updates
1 / 9Mourners attend prayer vigil for victims of shooting at Annunciation Church in MinneapolisPeople line up to attend a prayer vigil at Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota on August 27, 2025 following a shooting earlier in the day at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis.
Hebda spoke with the USA TODAY Network after the vigil. As the FBI investigates the attack as "an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics," he stressed the importance of holding onto faith.
The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, was armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol when the assault began on the Church of Annunciation at about 8:30 a.m. local time. The Mass was a celebration of the beginning of the school year at the Annunciation Catholic School.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Westman died at the rear of the church from a self-inflicted wound. He said the weapons used in the attack had been purchased legally.
Mourners embrace during a prayer vigil at Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota on August 27, 2025 following a shooting earlier in the day at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis.
O'Hara said online messages from the shooter released Wednesday were timed to publish during the attack. He said the FBI ordered the YouTube clips to be taken down and was reviewing them.
"This manifesto appeared to show him at the scene and included some disturbing writings," said O'Hara, adding that police have not ascertained a motive.
Asked whether the assailant had attended Annunciation school, O'Hara said investigators haven't confirmed that but are looking into it. According to public records cited by Reuters, Westman's mother, Mary Westman, had been an administrative assistant at Annunciation Church.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Thao Nguyen
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Community mourns as officials seek motive in Minneapolis shooting
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