MINNEAPOLIS – Robin Westman opened fire on pupils at the Annunciation Church and school in Minneapolis, killing two children and injuring 18 others. Authorities said the 23-year-old attacker “appeared to hate all of us” and was “obsessed with the idea of killing children,” though no clear motive has been determined.
The victims were identified as eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel, who loved sports, fishing, and cooking, and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, remembered by her family as joyful, kind, and deeply loved. Parents and officials called the attack a devastating tragedy, hoping their deaths would inspire action to prevent gun violence.
Westman fired dozens of rounds through windows using three legally purchased firearms and left a smoke bomb at the scene. She died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, leaving a note, though authorities said her precise motivations may never be fully known. The church had locked its doors before Mass began, likely saving many lives.
Witnesses described children fleeing, bleeding and pleading for help, while others highlighted the trauma this incident has caused. Minneapolis officials, including the mayor, have renewed calls for restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, underscoring concerns over recurring school shootings in the United States.
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