MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 Police are on the scene of an active shooting in Minneapolis that has left several children wounded. <\/p>\n
KARE<\/a> said a gunman opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pope Leo releases statement<\/p>\n Update 2:53 p.m. ET, Aug. 27: Pope Leo, the first American leader of the Catholic church, released a statement following the deadly shooting, saying he was \u201cprofoundly saddened\u201d to hear about the incident, CNN<\/a> reported. <\/p>\n \u201cHe sends his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child,\u201d Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said in the statement on behalf of Pope Leo. <\/p>\n Parolin said the pope is praying for the victims, first responders and clergy.<\/p>\n The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also released a statement, which read, \u201cAs a Church, we are following the tragic news from Annunciation School in Minneapolis with heartbreaking sadness. Whenever one part of the Body of Christ is wounded, we feel the pain as if it were our very own children. Let us all beg the Lord for the protection and healing of the entire Annunciation family,\u201d The Associated Press<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Alleged shooter identified<\/p>\n Update 1:51 p.m. ET, Aug. 27: Officials have identified the alleged shooter as Robin Westman, The Associated Press<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Law enforcement officials confirmed to NBC News<\/a> that Westman left behind videos posted online and writings referencing suicide, \u201cextremely violent thoughts and ideas,\u201d an apology letter to family and a hand-drawn sketch of a church\u2019s interior. It is not known if it was the interior of Annunciation Catholic Church.<\/p>\n It is believed the alleged shooter acted alone, the AP<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Police Chief Brian O\u2019Hara said that the alleged gunman tried to block the church\u2019s doors with a wood plank, \u201clike a 2-by-4,\u201d CNN<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Note: If you or someone you know is thinking of harming themselves, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free support via the Lifeline by dialing 988<\/a>. For more about risk factors and warning signs, visit the organization\u2019s official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hospital update<\/p>\n Update 12:16 p.m., ET Aug. 27: Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chairman of emergency medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, said that the several students they received had ages ranging from 6 to 14, and several were in critical condition. <\/p>\n He said that non-critical patients went to Children\u2019s Hospital and one additional hospital. <\/p>\n \u2018Killed where they sat in the pews\u2019<\/p>\n Update 11:56 a.m., ET, Aug. 27: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said there are \u201cfamilies with deceased children\u201d during a morning news conference. <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,\u201d Frey said. \u201cThese kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church\u201d when the shooting happened.<\/p>\n \u201cThis kind of act of evil should never happen, and it happens far too often,\u201d Frey said as he finished his comments. <\/p>\n Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O\u2019Hara said the mass inside the church was \u201cmarking the first week of school.\u201d<\/p>\n He confirmed that the gunman was shooting through the windows, hitting children and worshippers who were inside. <\/p>\n The gunman was armed with three guns – a shotgun, a rifle and a handgun. <\/p>\n Two children, aged 8 and 10, were \u201ckilled where they sat in the pews.\u201d Seventeen others were hurt, 14 were children and two of those children were in critical condition. <\/p>\n The gunman \u201ctook his own life\u201d at the back of the church, O\u2019Hara said. <\/p>\n When asked about the gunman, O\u2019Hara said he was in his early 20s with no \u201cextensive\u201d criminal history. They are looking for a motive. It is not known if the gunman had been a student at the school, the chief said. <\/p>\n The children were taken to the school, where they were being reunited with their parents. <\/p>\n There were reports of explosives, but O\u2019Hara said there were no explosives found at the scene other than what he described as a smoke bomb or a firework left outside of the building. <\/p>\n O\u2019Hara believes the gunman fired all three weapons during the rampage. He also said that no shell casings have yet been found inside the church.<\/p>\n 6 children at Children\u2019s Minnesota hospital<\/p>\n Update 11:50 a.m. ET, Aug. 27: A spokesperson with Children\u2019s Minnesota<\/a> hospital said the facility is treating six children, NBC News<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n ABC News<\/a> had reported that at least five children were being treated there. <\/p>\n Hennepin Healthcare<\/a> said it was caring for several victims as well. <\/p>\n We are caring for patients from the shooting that occurred this morning. Please watch this and other social media sites for updates.<\/p>\n \u2014 Hennepin Healthcare (@HennepinHC) August 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cChildren\u2019s Minnesota is aware of the recent tragic shooting in Minneapolis. Our teams are trained to respond in times of crisis, and are fully prepared to care for impacted children,\u201d the hospital said in a statement to NBC News<\/a>. \u201cWe will not share more details to respect the privacy of our patients and families.\u201d<\/p>\n A man who lives near the school said he heard 30 to 50 rounds shot over \u201cseveral minutes,\u201d CNN <\/a>reported.<\/p>\n \u201cI was on a call, all the windows of our home were open. I know what gunfire sounds like and, and, I could tell. I was shocked. I said there\u2019s no way that that could be gunfire. There was so much of it,\u201d Bill Bienemann told KARE<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3 dead, including gunman<\/p>\n Update 11:19 a.m. ET, Aug. 27: The Department of Justice said that three people, including the shooter, were dead, Reuters <\/a>reported.<\/p>\n Children treated<\/p>\n Update 11:14 a.m. ET, Aug. 27: A Minneapolis hospital said it is caring for five children who were hurt in the shooting, The Associated Press<\/a> reported. <\/p>\n Self-inflicted<\/p>\n Update 11:05 a.m. ET, Aug. 27: CNN <\/a>and ABC News<\/a> are reporting that the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot.<\/p>\n Police: 20 victims<\/p>\n Update 11 a.m. ET, Aug. 27: Richfield police said there are approximately 20 victims, both KARE<\/a> and KMSP<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Police said the alleged gunman was dressed in all black and was armed with a rifle, KMSP<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Minneapolis police have not released a number of victims, KMSP <\/a>reported.<\/p>\n Parent describes scene<\/p>\n Update 10:55 a.m. ET, Aug. 27: A parent who was inside the church for Mass when the shooting happened said that children were in the pews when the shooter opened fire outside the building. <\/p>\n The parent, who did not want his name shared, told the Star Tribune<\/a>, \u201cHe just pepper-sprayed through the stained-glass windows into the building, 50 to 100 shots.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is terrible,\u201d the parent told the newspaper<\/a>. \u201dThis is evil. I don\u2019t know how you defend against this.\u201d<\/p>\n Gunman dead: reports<\/p>\n Update: 10:51 a.m. ET, Aug. 27: City officials said that the \u201cshooter is contained,\u201d but did not give any specifics. <\/p>\n Original report: KMSP<\/a> reported that sources told them that the alleged gunman is dead. <\/p>\n Families of children who were at the school were told to meet at a reunification zone at the school. <\/p>\n The families of children at the school can go to the reunification zone at the Annunciation School (525 W. 54th\u00a0St.).<\/p>\n \u2014 City of Minneapolis (@CityMinneapolis) August 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The first day of school was this week, according to the school\u2019s Instagram<\/a> page.<\/p>\n Some of the victims may be children, according to the news station<\/a>. <\/p>\n The Associated Press<\/a> reported that children were being evacuated from the building. The school, which has Pre-K through eighth grade, was scheduled to have an all-school Mass at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n BREAKING: I\u2019m on the scene of a massive police presence in S. Minneapolis near Annunciation Church & school. Working to confirm details. Stay with @kstp<\/a> for the latest. pic.twitter.com\/bp8gTI8gJX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bailey Hurley (@BaileyHurleyTV) August 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he has been briefed on the incident. <\/p>\n I\u2019ve been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information. The BCA and State Patrol are on scene.<\/p>\n I\u2019m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.<\/p>\n \u2014 Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) August 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social <\/a>that he has been briefed on the situation. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are responding, according to a post on the agency\u2019s X page<\/a>. <\/p>\n The FBI has agents en route to the scene, according to FBI Director Dan Bongino.<\/p>\n FBI is aware of the reports coming out of @FBIMinneapolis<\/a> and our agents are en route to the scene. We will provide more updates as able.<\/p>\n \u2014 Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) August 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n There were three deadly shootings in the city over 12 hours, the Minneapolis Police Department said. <\/p>\n The department said in a news release before the school shooting, \u201cThe level of gun violence across the city within the last day is deeply unsettling. Across three separate multiple-victim shootings, eight people have been injured by gunfire and three have lost their lives,\u201d NBC News<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n The shooting at Annunciation was the fourth deadly shooting in less than 24 hours. <\/p>\n \u00a92025 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n