Minneapolis, MN – On August 27, a tragic shooting at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis left two children dead and over a dozen wounded, with a 10-year-old survivor, Weston Halsne, vividly describing the ordeal to CBS affiliate WCCO.
Seated just “two seats away” from the stained-glass windows where the shooter, identified as Robin Westman, opened fire during Mass at a Catholic school, Halsne survived thanks to his friend Victor, who shielded him. The attack, which occurred at 8:30 a.m., has shocked the community and intensified national debates over gun violence.
Weston Halsne’s Terrifying Account
Halsne, a fifth-grader at Annunciation Catholic School, recounted the chaos to WCCO, describing how he felt gunpowder on his neck as shots shattered the church’s stained-glass windows. “It was like shots fired, and then we kind of got under the pews,” he said. “They shot through the stained-glass windows, I think. And it was really scary.” Positioned just two seats from the windows, Halsne added, “The shots were right next to me.”
Halsne credited his survival to his friend Victor, who “laid on top of me” but was injured in the process. “I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s OK,” he said. After the gunfire, the children waited 5 to 10 minutes before moving to the gym, where “the doors locked, just to make sure [the shooter] didn’t come.” Reuniting with his mother outside was a moment of profound relief: “I was super happy because I was scared that I wasn’t gonna see her. I was just in shock.”
Halsne noted that while he had practiced active shooter drills at school, “never in church,” highlighting the unexpected vulnerability of a sacred space.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed in the pews, with 14 others wounded. The shooter, Robin Westman, was pronounced dead at the scene, though details of their death remain undisclosed.
The Shooter and Investigation
Authorities identified Westman as the attacker, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol. Minneapolis police found YouTube videos posted by Westman before the shooting, showcasing weapons matching those used. While the motive remains unclear, O’Hara noted the videos suggest premeditation. The investigation, led by the Minneapolis Police Department and FBI, is probing Westman’s background, including potential mental health issues or ideological triggers, with no clear links yet to domestic terrorism, per a police statement.
The attack has reignited calls for gun control, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) advocating for stricter background checks. On X, reactions are polarized: @MNGunSense posted, “Another school shooting in Minneapolis—when will Congress act on guns?” while @2ASupporterMN argued, “Armed security could’ve stopped this—gun laws don’t fix evil.”
Minneapolis, with a 2024 violent crime rate of 926 per 100,000, per FBI data, has seen declining homicides but rising gun violence, making the church attack particularly jarring. Community leaders, like Rev. Michael O’Connell of Annunciation, are calling for healing vigils, while parents demand enhanced school security.
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What’s Next?
The shooting could galvanize gun control advocacy in Minnesota, where a 2023 red flag law has been used sparingly. The investigation into Westman’s motives may clarify whether the attack was ideologically driven, potentially influencing national security policies.
As protests grow, with Refuse Fascism planning a November 5, 2025, “day of resistance,” the Annunciation tragedy shows America’s gun crisis, amplifying calls for reform. With Trump’s administration facing scrutiny over transparency and governance, from DHS’s deleted texts to Tesla’s $243 million verdict, the shooting could reshape voter priorities in the 2026 midterms.
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