ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A shooter opened fire on a Minneapolis church window, killing two children and injuring 17 others. Now, the local Catholic community is sharing its thoughts and condolences with those involved.
The shooter was identified as a 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene after firing through the windows of the Annunciation Church.
According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, in 2025, there were 148 school shootings nationwide.
Any time I hear about school shootings, it’s just heartbreaking,” said Karen Kroh, the superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. “The fact that this occurred during the first back-to-school mass for the school year at Annunciation was devastating.”
In a statement to Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Pope Leo XIV expressed 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.”
As a “pledge of peace, fortitude and consolation in the Lord Jesus,” Pope Leo imparted his Apostolic Blessing upon “the Annunciation Catholic School Community, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the people of the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area.”
Father Steve Hansen, pastor of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, said his secretary informed him of the shooting yesterday.
“You know, that while children are praying at Mass, actually singing the songs of King David, that this would happen. A great sadness overcame,” he said
Hansen expressed how all the pastors and schools agreed to pray yesterday for Annunciation. He said the whole world will be praying about this tragedy.
“I assure you that all of the churches in town and throughout the probably the country, if not the world, will be praying,” said Father Hansen.
Hansen had a few words for the families in Minneapolis that have been affected by the shooting,
“I say to our parents and to our grandparents and to all of our adults to really watch off, watch over our young people who are having difficulties and never be afraid to intervene and to ask others for help on how to help a young person who could be troubled,” he said. “That’s a good thing for all of us to be aware of, myself included, just to be reminded of our important role and looking after those who are struggling.