FBI Investigates Minneapolis School Shooting as Anti-Catholic Hate Crime

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 in a post.

The two victims, aged 8 and 10, were killed when an assailant opened fire through the windows of the city's Annunciation Church during a Mass for school children.

The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating he was profoundly saddened by the attack. Police Chief Brian O'Hara condemned the violence, calling it a deliberate act against innocent worshippers.

Authorities are yet to establish a clear motive for the attack, which occurred just before 8 AM local time on Wednesday. The attacker reportedly fired dozens of shots using a rifle, shotgun, and pistol while also carrying a smoke bomb.

Witnesses reported hearing the gunfire, with one resident recalling the unsettling realization that it was a shooting.

A 10-year-old survivor recalled how his friend courageously shielded him during the tragedy, sustaining injuries in the process.

The Annunciation Church serves children aged 5 to 14, and police have begun to delve into the assailant's background, notably mentioning that Westman's mother previously worked at the school.

Governor Tim Walz highlighted the broader issue of gun violence, stating no community should ever endure such horrors, while plans have been made for flags to be flown at half-mast in honor of the victims.