On the morning of August 27, 2025, the sacred halls of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis became the site of an unthinkable tragedy that would forever change a community’s understanding of safety, faith, and resilience. This is a comprehensive account of that devastating day, told through the voices of survivors, witnesses, and a community determined to find hope amid heartbreak.
The Morning That Changed Everything
The limestone bells of Annunciation Catholic Church had been calling families to worship for over a century in south Minneapolis. That Wednesday morning was meant to be a celebration—nearly 200 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade had gathered in the beautiful church for a special all-school Mass marking their first week back to school.
Ten-year-old Weston Halsne sat just two seats away from the ornate stained-glass windows, his school uniform pressed, joining his classmates in prayer beneath the soaring ceiling that had watched over this community since 1962. The fifth-grader could never have imagined that in moments, his life—and the lives of everyone in that sacred space—would be forever changed.
When Terror Struck the Sacred
At approximately 8:30 a.m., as morning prayers filled the air, 23-year-old Robin Westman approached the church’s exterior wall, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol—all legally purchased weapons. Without warning, Westman began firing through the beautiful stained-glass windows, shattering both glass and innocence as dozens of rounds found their way to children seated in the pews where they had come to worship.
“It was like shots fired and then we kind of like got under pews,” young Weston later recounted, his voice carrying trauma no child should ever bear. “They shot through the stained glass windows I think, and it was really scary.”
The peaceful sanctuary transformed into chaos and terror. Two precious children—aged 8 and 10—lost their lives where they sat, their young bodies unable to escape the violence that had invaded their place of prayer. Fourteen other children, ranging from ages 6 to 15, were wounded, along with three elderly parishioners in their 80s who had come to share in the joy of the new school year.
Heroes Emerge from Horror
In the midst of unimaginable terror, the true character of the Annunciation community revealed itself. Teachers and staff members immediately sprang into action with the courage that only love for children can inspire.
“Within seconds of the gunfire, the heroic staff moved students under the pews,” the school later reported. These educators, whose greatest concern moments before had been lesson plans and learning objectives, suddenly found themselves shielding children with their own bodies.
Perhaps most powerfully, the children themselves displayed extraordinary heroism. Weston’s friend Victor saved his life by laying on top of him as bullets flew overhead. “My friend Victor like, saved me though. Because he laid on top of me. But he got hit,” Weston explained, his young voice filled with both gratitude and concern. “He went to the hospital. I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s OK.”
A Community Rushes to Help
Patrick Scallen, a former Annunciation student living half a block away, heard what he initially thought was construction noise while working from home. Something deep inside told him this was different—and dangerous.
“I heard the shots and immediately just ran up to the school,” Scallen recalled. When he arrived, he encountered three children who were clearly injured and in desperate need of comfort. Without hesitation, this neighbor became a guardian angel.
“The one girl said, ‘can you just please hold my hand?’ Yeah, and I did, and I think that helped her,” Scallen remembered. One child had been grazed by a bullet on her forehead, while another had been shot in the neck. “I kept telling them, your mom and dad [are coming],” he said, providing the reassurance these frightened children desperately needed.
The Shooter’s Tragic Background
The investigation revealed a deeply troubling picture of Robin Westman, who had legally changed their name from Robert in 2020 as a teenager. The 23-year-old had no significant criminal history and had purchased all three weapons used legally and recently.
Most heartbreaking of all, Westman had attended Annunciation Catholic School, graduating from eighth grade in 2017—just eight years before returning to commit this act of violence. Even more tragic, Westman’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, had worked as a parish secretary at the very church where the shooting occurred, serving the community for five years before retiring in 2021.
Investigators discovered that Westman had posted disturbing videos online before the attack, including what appeared to be a manifesto filled with obsessions about previous mass shootings, particularly Sandy Hook Elementary School. The FBI classified the attack as both domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.
After unleashing terror on innocent children and worshippers, Westman died by suicide in the back of the church.
Leadership in Crisis
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stood before cameras with tears in his eyes, his voice breaking as he tried to make sense of the senseless. “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church,” Frey said. “These are kids that should be learning with their friends, they should be playing on the playground.”
Even in his grief, Mayor Frey delivered a powerful message about community response: “Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community, or any other community out there, has lost their sense of common humanity. We should not be operating out of a place of hate for anyone. We should be operating from a place of love for our kids. Kids died today”.
Governor Tim Walz echoed these sentiments: “Minnesota is heartbroken. From the officers responding, to the clergy and teachers providing comfort, to the hospital staff saving lives, we will get through this together. Hug your kids close”.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara captured the incomprehensible nature of the tragedy: “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of shooting into a church filled with children is absolutely incomprehensible”.
A Sacred Institution’s History
Annunciation Catholic School has served the south Minneapolis community since 1923, when four Dominican Sisters opened the school with 72 pupils enrolled. For over a century, it has been a place where faith, learning, and community intersected—where children learned not just academics, but values, compassion, and love.
Principal Matt DeBoer praised his staff’s heroic response while acknowledging the long journey ahead. “Children were ducked down, adults were protecting children, older children were protecting younger children,” he said. “It could have been significantly worse without their heroic action. This is a nightmare, but we call our staff the dream team, and we will recover from this.”
Messages of Hope and Healing
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, expressed profound sorrow over the shooting. In a telegram to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis, the Pope offered 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”.
Young Weston Halsne showed remarkable resilience when given the opportunity to send a message to hospitalized victims. “I hope you’re OK, and I’m praying for you,” the brave 10-year-old said, his simple words carrying genuine love and concern.
His grandfather, Michael Simpson, reflected on broader implications: “When it happens to your own children, then you’re going to think very differently about this. There’s nothing this precious little boy ever did to deserve this”.
The Broader Impact
The tragedy sent shockwaves far beyond Minneapolis. Catholic schools across the nation began reviewing and enhancing their security protocols. The Diocese of Tucson announced that student masses would be moved from churches to schools in some locations, while other dioceses increased their focus on threat assessment and prevention.
President Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in honor of the victims, and the White House confirmed monitoring of the situation. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the investigation as both domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.
Looking Forward with Faith
The story of Annunciation Catholic School on August 27, 2025, is ultimately about the courage of teachers who protected their students, the bravery of children who protected each other, the compassion of neighbors who rushed to help strangers, and the love of a community determined not to let evil have the final word.
As young Weston walked out of that church into his mother’s waiting arms, he carried trauma—but also knowledge that when darkness came, light appeared in the form of his friend Victor, his teachers, and a community that surrounded him with love.
“I was super happy because like I was scared that I wasn’t going to see her. I didn’t know what was happening really. I was just in shock,” Weston said about being reunited with his mother. But he was alive, safe, and surrounded by people who would help him heal.
The bells of Annunciation will ring again. Children will return to learn and grow within its walls. While the scars of August 27, 2025, will never fully fade, this community has shown that love is stronger than hate, courage is more powerful than fear, and hope can emerge even from the darkest tragedy.
This story is dedicated to the memory of the two children whose lives were taken too soon, to all those who were injured, and to the heroes who emerged from tragedy to show us the very best of humanity.
