Annunciation Church shooting kills two children, 17 wounded

A gunman opened fire through the stained glass windows of a Catholic church in south Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, killing two children and wounding at least 17 others as students and families attended a back‑to‑school Mass, officials said. The shooter, identified by police as 23‑year‑old Robin Westman, died at the scene of an apparent self‑inflicted gunshot wound, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at a news conference.

Authorities said the attack began just before 8:30 a.m. at Annunciation Church, adjacent to Annunciation Catholic School, when a person armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol fired dozens of rounds into the sanctuary. Surveillance footage and investigators determined the shots were fired from outside the building, O'Hara said. The chief said officers rendered first aid, rescued children and recovered a smoke device at the scene. He added that all three firearms had been legally purchased and that investigators believe the shooter acted alone.

The two children killed were identified by their families as 8‑year‑old Fletcher Merkel and 10‑year‑old Harper Moyski. Their parents described them as bright, beloved children; Harper's parents called for...