2 children killed, gunman dead in Catholic school shooting in Minnesota

A shooter opened fire with a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis on Wednesday and struck children celebrating Mass during the first week of school, killing two and wounding 17 people in an act of violence the police chief called “absolutely incomprehensible”.

Armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, 23-year-old Robin Westman approached the side of the church and shot dozens of rounds through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School just before 8.30am, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at news conferences. He said the shooter then died by suicide.

The children who died were eight and 10. Fourteen other kids and three octogenarian parishioners were wounded but expected to survive, the chief said.

Fifth-grader Weston Halsne told reporters he ducked for the pews, covering his head, shielded by a friend who was lying on top of him. His friend was hit, he said.

“I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s okay,” the 10-year-old said, adding that he was praying for the other hospitalised children and adults.

FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that the shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.