January 1, Minnesota Church Shooting Raises Terror Concerns

Wyatt’s Take

• The FBI says the tragic shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church was an act of hate against Catholics and domestic terrorism.
• The attacker was a transgender individual, born male, aiming to target children during a mass attended by students and families.
• Two children died, and 17 more people were hurt, shaking a community that just gathered for the school year’s start.

The FBI is calling the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics. The shooter, Robin Westman—born Robert Westman—was transgender and died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Westman used a rifle, shotgun, and pistol to fire through church windows during a mass, according to police. The attack left two children dead and wounded 15 more children and two adults. The wounded range in age from six to sixteen, with several still in critical condition.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated the shooter acted alone, and there is no threat to the public. Authorities say Westman had a fascination with past mass shooters, as revealed in a manifesto, and intended to harm as many children as possible.

Investigators found gun magazines marked with hateful messages, including “for the children” and “kill Donald Trump.” Westman was not known to police before this attack. The shooter’s mother once worked at the church but retired in 2021.

The names of the child victims, aged eight and ten, have not been released. Medical teams are caring for the survivors in local hospitals, and the FBI continues to investigate.

Read more details here

Wyatt Matters

Middle America wants to see faith, family, and community protected from violent hatred. Attacks on churches are attacks on our values, demanding strength and vigilance from us all.