A shooting at a school in Minneapolis that left two children dead and 17 others injured is being investigated as an anti-Catholic hate crime, the FBI says.
The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics, FBI Director Kash Patel stated on social media.
The two children, aged eight and ten, were killed when an attacker opened fire through the windows of the city's Annunciation Church on Wednesday morning as children were celebrating Mass.
The attacker, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, has been identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman.
Authorities have not yet established a motive for the attack, which has sparked outrage and grief in the community. A steady stream of mourners gathered at the site, leaving flowers and expressing their shock and anger over the violence.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, expressed deep sadness over the attack, reflecting the broader distress felt across the nation and around the world.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara condemned the shooting as a deliberate act against innocent children and worshippers, describing it as an incomprehensible act of cruelty.
The shooting occurred shortly before 8:00 AM local time, with reports indicating that the shooter used multiple firearms—a rifle, shotgun, and pistol—to unleash dozens of shots into the church.
Witnesses recounted harrowing experiences, including a 10-year-old boy who stated that his friend shielded him from bullets by lying on top of him, illustrating the tragic heroism amidst the chaos.
As investigations continue, community leaders called for reflection on the increasing violence against faith-based communities, urging for unity in understanding and supporting victims of hate crimes.
In a somber note, President Trump's team issued condolences, stating that flags would be flown at half-mast at the White House in honor of the victims.
}
