A gunman identified as Robin Westman targeted innocent children at prayer in a Minneapolis Catholic church, killing two young victims and wounding 17 others in what the FBI is investigating as an anti-Catholic hate crime.
Attack on Sacred Ground
On August 27, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., Robin Westman shattered the sanctity of Annunciation Catholic Church during a morning Mass celebrating the start of the school year. The gunman fired through church windows using a rifle, shotgun, and pistol—all legally purchased—before barricading doors and terrorizing families gathered for worship. Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the targeting of children in a place of worship “absolutely incomprehensible,” highlighting the particular cruelty of attacking the most vulnerable in what should be a sanctuary.
Federal Hate Crime Investigation
The FBI under Director Kash Patel has launched a comprehensive investigation treating this massacre as both domestic terrorism and a hate crime specifically targeting the Catholic community. This represents a disturbing escalation in attacks against people of faith, echoing concerns about rising anti-religious sentiment in America. The federal designation acknowledges what many conservatives have warned about: the increasing hostility toward traditional religious institutions and the families who cherish them as cornerstones of their communities.
Community Under Siege
Annunciation Catholic School, serving preschool through eighth grade, shares its campus with the church where this horror unfolded. The attack marks the first school-related shooting death in Minneapolis since March 2025 and produced the youngest victims since 2021. Mayor Jacob Frey acknowledged the community’s devastation, stating “there are no words that can capture the horror and tragedy.” Two victims remain in critical condition while families grapple with unimaginable loss during what should have been a joyful beginning to the academic year.
This tragedy underscores the vulnerability of religious communities and educational institutions, raising urgent questions about protecting our children and preserving the freedom to worship without fear. The intersection of school violence and religious targeting represents a particularly sinister threat to the values that bind American communities together.
As investigations continue, this attack serves as a stark reminder of the need to safeguard both our children and our constitutional right to religious freedom from those who would destroy the very fabric of civilized society.
Sources:
Minneapolis City Government – Active Situation August 27
CBS News – Annunciation Catholic Church Minneapolis School Shooting
Education Week – Two Children Ages 8 and 10 Killed in Minneapolis School Shooting