Minneapolis authorities say the gunman who opened fire on children during prayers at Annunciation Church was “obsessed with the idea of killing children,” a chilling fixation that left two young victims dead and 18 others wounded.
The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire with three legally purchased firearms on Wednesday afternoon, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “The shooter appeared to hate all of us,” O’Hara said. “More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children.”
The victims were named by their families as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski. Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, described his son as a boy who loved “family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play.” Fighting back tears, he urged parents to “give your kids an extra hug and kiss today.” Harper’s parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, called their daughter “a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.” They said they hoped her memory would “fuel action” to stop gun violence.
Witnesses described chaos inside and around the church, where students were attending school prayers. Children fled bleeding, some begging strangers for help. “She kept saying, ‘please hold my hand, don’t leave me,’” recalled neighbor Patrick Scallen, who comforted a girl with a head wound.
Officials said the attacker fired dozens of rounds through church windows and left behind a smoke bomb and a note. Investigators confirmed the suspect previously attended the church school, where her mother once worked. The shooter died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities searched three homes linked to her in suburban Minneapolis.
Federal investigators say the attack bore the hallmarks of domestic terrorism. FBI Director Kash Patel said Westman’s weapons carried “multiple anti-Catholic, anti-religious references” and writings that included Holocaust-related slurs, anti-Jewish statements, and threats against former President Donald Trump. Officials confirmed that none of the guns were illegally acquired and that the suspect had not appeared on any watchlists.
Acting U.S. Attorney General for Minnesota Joseph Thompson condemned the writings as “horrific and vile” and declined to repeat them. He confirmed that investigators believe the attacker expressed hatred toward multiple groups, including the Jewish community and Trump supporters.
Chief O’Hara urged news outlets to stop using the shooter’s name, saying notoriety was likely a motivating factor. “Like so many other mass shooters we’ve seen in this country and around the world, there was a deranged fascination with previous mass shootings,” he said.
Parents said the church’s precaution of locking its doors before Mass likely prevented even greater loss of life. Still, the violence has shaken the community. Vincent Francoual, whose daughter Chloe survived, said his child is now afraid to return to church or school. “We live in a country where we train kids what to do,” he said. “It’s no longer a freak accident—it’s a pattern.”
The attack has renewed calls for gun reform in Minnesota. Mayor Jacob Frey urged lawmakers to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. “There is no reason that someone should be able to reel off 30 shots before they even have to reload,” he said. “We’re not talking about your father’s hunting rifle. We’re talking about guns built to pierce armor and kill people.”
The FBI and Minneapolis police continue to investigate the massacre, which they say reflects a dangerous cycle of mass shootings inspiring copycat attacks. Families, meanwhile, are left mourning children who should have been safe inside a house of worship.