FBI Investigates Minneapolis School Shooting as Anti-Catholic Hate Crime

Minneapolis School Shooting Investigation

• FBI is investigating the killing of two children during a school mass as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Roman Catholics.
• The victims were a 10-year-old and an 8-year-old, with 17 others injured during morning mass at Annunciation Catholic School.
• The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene and had no significant criminal history.

Attack Details and Community Response

• 🎯 The shooting occurred as children were filing into the building for morning mass, with the attacker firing dozens of rounds through the windows from three different guns.
• 💔 A witness described finding wounded children fleeing the building, with one child asking, "Why does this happen?"
• 🕯️ Vigils took place to honor the dead and pray for the wounded, with President Trump ordering flags at half-mast.

Attacker's Profile and Motive

• 🔍 Detectives are reviewing a social media video attributed to the attacker, which reportedly shows depressed sentiments, guns and ammunition, and racist, anti-semitic, and violent messages.
• 🎭 The attacker, Robin Westman, legally changed their name from Robert in 2020 and was a former student at the school.

Gun Law Debate

• 🗣️ Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum blamed existing gun laws for the tragedy, stating that weapons used to target humans should not be readily available.
• ⚖️ She advocated for better federal gun laws, including a ban on assault weapons, which were previously in place.
• 🏛️ McCollum urged Congress to pass common-sense gun laws rather than relying solely on thoughts and prayers.