UPDATE (2:50 p.m. EDT): Pope Leo XIV expressed his condolences to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis and prayed for the victims and survivors of the shooting in a telegram sent through Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
"His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was profoundly saddened to learn of the loss of life and injuries following the shooting that took place at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, and he sends his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child. While commending the souls of the deceased children to the love of Almighty God, His Holiness prays for the wounded as well as the first responders, medical personnel and clergy who are caring for them and their loved ones.
At this extremely difficult time, the Holy Father imparts to the Annunciation Catholic School Community, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the people of the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace, fortitude and consolation in the Lord Jesus."
UPDATE (2:15 p.m. EDT): Multiple news outlets identified the deceased shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman. Westman is a biological man who was formerly known as "Robert." Westman's name was legally changed from Robert to Robin in January 2020, when Westman was 17, according to the Minnesota Star-Tribune.
Westman's mother was formerly an employee at Assumption Catholic School, according to local outlet KARE 11.
UPDATE (12:20 p.m. EDT): The two children killed at Assumption Catholic School were aged 8 and 10, said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara during a press conference. Seventeen others, including 14 children, were injured, two of them critically.
The suspect was armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, said O'Hara, and fired most of the shots into the church from outside. All three weapons were believed to have been used in the shooting. A set of doors on the side of the parish where the shots were fired were barricaded from the outside with a two-by-four by the shooter, said O'Hara.
A smoke bomb-type device was also found at the scene, said O'Hara, but he did not elaborate further.
It is unclear at this time if any of the shots were fired from within the church building, but O'Hara reported that the suspect was found deceased at the rear of the church.
The suspect took his own life, said O'Hara.
The suspected shooter did not have a criminal history and police had not yet determined a motive. He is believed to be in his "early 20s," said O'Hara. It was not immediately clear if the suspect had any connections to the school or parish.
At least two children were killed and at least 20 were wounded after a shooter targeted the all-school Mass at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 27.
Students at Annunciation Catholic School, a PK-8 school affiliated with the parish, were attending Mass on the third day of the school year. Shortly before 8:30 a.m., police received calls reporting gunfire.
About an hour later, members of the Minneapolis City Council were informed by email, “There is no active threat to the community at this time. The shooter is contained.”
FOX 9, a Minneapolis/St. Paul news station, reported that the shooter was dead. Reuters later confirmed that two children were killed, and Children's Minnesota, a hospital, confirmed that they were treating five patients.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on X that he had been briefed on the situation and that law enforcement was on the scene.
"I'm praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence," said Walz.
A parent who was present at Mass told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the shots came from outside the church building.
“He just pepper-sprayed through the stained-glass windows into the building, 50 to 100 shots,” said the parent, who did not want his name printed in the paper.
This story has been updated.
