MN- Minneapolis, mass shooting at church, multiple fatalities, possible explosive device found. Aug 2025

[Trino]

Two children were killed, people remain in hospital, multiple families are devasted, a community is in shock and pain, and a nation faces yet another shooting where one of us killed others.

And people are arguing the shooter didn't accumulate enough weapons to call it an arsenal?

This isn't about Americans who love their weapon collections.

It's about a killer who purchased guns and ammunition with the purpose of murdering as many people as possible. The shooter built a supply (aka arsenal) to do that.

jmopinion

Edited to fix pronouns mistake. I'm an old dog learning new ways, willing to do so but also needing to pay attention as I go.

Two children were killed, people remain in hospital, multiple families are devasted, a community is in shock and pain, and a nation faces yet another shooting where one of us killed others.

And people are arguing the shooter didn't accumulate enough weapons to call it an arsenal?

This isn't about Americans who love their weapon collections.

It's about a killer who purchased guns and ammunition with the purpose of murdering as many people as possible. The shooter built a supply (aka arsenal) to do that.

jmopinion

Edited to fix pronouns mistake. I'm an old dog learning new ways, willing to do so but also needing to pay attention as I go.

Well, of course, it wasn't an arsenal. /s Don't we all just have a loaded rifle, shotgun, and a pistol we carry around? /s

 

[mickey2942]

Well, of course, it wasn't an arsenal. /s Don't we all just have a loaded rifle, shotgun, and a pistol we carry around? /s

In Montana. Yes. I have those items in the truck.

 

[tara83]

In Montana. Yes. I have those items in the truck.

This isn't Montana. The shooter had zero legit reasons for all those guns.

 

[fred&edna]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> The father seems to be flying under the radar thus far. Maybe, because RW focused all the blame on their mother. From my experience, mothers are often blamed for everything. I blame my mother for a lot. In turn, my son blames me for a lot...

I actually think that RW's mother did the best that she could. RW wasn't mature or sane enough to realize it. It actually took me a while to figure out that my father was right about so much. I just wish that he had lived longer for me to tell him so.

JMO.

ita.

the fact rw's writings blamed mother is the very reason i seriously doubt mother is to blame for anything.

jmo

 

[fred&edna]

since it's been discussed by others on the thread....

the 'intent/purpose' of the owner/user of guns and ammo is key... be it singular or multiple guns of any type.

it's prevention of evil intent that's important.

jmo

 

[AngTxGal]

But the problem is most of the signs are there when they are teenagers and nothing is really done to get them help.

Agreed, or people are blowing their threats and actions off when help isn’t what they need- they may need charges or incarceration… that is what the rest of us need to protect us from them.

What will this prompt? Do we need guards and metal detectors outside churches?

IMO

 

[mickey2942]

Really amazing there were only 2 deaths. With that much ammo.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Annunciation Catholic Church holds first Mass since deadly Minneapolis school shooting

The Rev. Dennis Zehren urged parishioners in their darkest hour to welcome the "light of a new day."

www.nbcnews.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Mass was underway Wednesday morning to mark the beginning of the academic year at Annunciation Catholic School when bullets started to come through the glass.

That the shooting, which killed two students and wounded more than a dozen other people, occurred as Mass was being celebrated is something the Rev. Dennis Zehren is still reflecting on.

“I will be reflecting on that for the rest of my life,” Zehren said in remarks before Saturday’s Mass, the first for the parish since the shooting. “It’s something I will never be able to unsee.”...

 

[Megnut]

Live on the local news CBS/WCCO --

An 11 year old survivor walked up to the news crew and said boldly, I have something to say.

With his grandfather's blessing, the news interviewed him. He talked about the fear. And bravery. A classmate five on top of him to protect him. That classmate was shot in the back. The young man said he's paying for him and all the victims in the hospital. Such courage.

Minneapolis Catholic school shooting survivor describes how friend saved his life: "I'm praying for you"

"My friend Victor like, saved me though. Because he laid on top of me. But he got hit," said fifth grade student Weston Halsne. "I was super scared for him. But I think now he's OK."

www.cbsnews.com

JMO

Bringing my post forward as there's an update. This brave young man who came forward to give a statement was actually injured in the massacre. He had a bullet fragment in his neck. Walking wounded, unaware he'd been hit.

I'm so sad for what those children (and adults) faced that day and what trauma they will carry with them. Two lost lives, countless impacted.

JMO

Doctors discover bullet fragment in neck of 10-year-old Annunciation shooting survivor

Weston Halsne survived the deadly mass shooting at Minneapolis' Annunciation Catholic Church after his friend covered him as a human shield. But doctors recently discovered a bullet fragment lodged in Halsne's neck, dangerously close to an artery.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[pukasonqo2]

Well, of course, it wasn't an arsenal. /s Don't we all just have a loaded rifle, shotgun, and a pistol we carry around? /s

I’m from Australia and thought this was sarcasm, not sure if I got the gist of the comment right

 

[Megnut]

An arsenal can be a pile of rocks if the intent is war. This shooter came arms with enough ammunition to kill everyone in that church, a church filled predominately with children, children who were purposefully targeted.

Local for me, it was startling to see armed police officers at my own church this morning. I'm not even directly impacted by this crime but even the stained glass looks different now. It's always been beautiful, as the light filters in. I couldn't share the thought, about what happens when, instead, darkness blasts through.

I recall again what was said at the vigil -- the darkness can never overwhelm the light.

A hard truth to hold on to.

JMO

 

[fred&edna]

rw's self-centered writings are so beyond ridiculous... the superior thinking, the blame focused onto others, and the desires to inflict pain and death. even the mundane worries of whether to cut 'pretty hair'. i suppose someone must be blamed for not convincing rw that hair eventually grows back after being cut. i do think there was fuel added to rw's internal fire... i'm just not sure of the source/s... but i believe they are important.

jmo

 

[Dawookie]

So when were these firearms purchased?
A pistol can be justified as a defense weapon.
A shotgun can be justified for hunting.

An AR15? Shouldn’t everyone have to apply to get access? Maybe a psych evaluation?

When you look at the number of rounds fired into that church- it is sickening.
No reason for anyone to have semi auto gun- no one uses those to hunt anything but people.

And I can say this as a Texan who has lived around guns my entire 50+ year life.
Do any of my hunting relatives own a semi auto gun? No

IMO

They did have to apply for a transfer permit to get both the pistol and the rifle meaning they had to do a separate background check before doing the federal background check when they bought the gun. Neither background check came up with anything that would have prevented the purchase. I'm not even sure a psych eval would have prevented them from buying because of how they hid everything for the most part.

And as far as no one uses them to hunt anything but people, it's one of the most popular platforms for coyote and feral hog hunts. People use them with a higher caliber to hunter bigger game animals as well. Semi autos in smaller caliber, .22, .17HMR etc are perfect for smaller game and varmint control. The Ruger Mini-14 has been around for 50+ years and is popular on ranchea and farms. The number of people using them to hunt dwarfs the number of people who use them commit mass shootings.

 

[AngTxGal]

Annunciation Catholic Church holds first Mass since deadly Minneapolis school shooting

The Rev. Dennis Zehren urged parishioners in their darkest hour to welcome the "light of a new day."

www.nbcnews.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Mass was underway Wednesday morning to mark the beginning of the academic year at Annunciation Catholic School when bullets started to come through the glass.

That the shooting, which killed two students and wounded more than a dozen other people, occurred as Mass was being celebrated is something the Rev. Dennis Zehren is still reflecting on.

“I will be reflecting on that for the rest of my life,” Zehren said in remarks before Saturday’s Mass, the first for the parish since the shooting. “It’s something I will never be able to unsee.”...

I’m livid and heartbroken…
How is it going to be for these children… for the rest of their lives when they walk into a church and see the windows they will think of the bullets, the noises, the blood, the loss of life.

Sick
IMO

 

[indicolite22]

The relationship with the person — who was named “Aby” in the Cyrillic code the manifesto was written in and deciphered by The Post — appeared to be on the rocks.

“Aby is such a baby. I should have never started dating them,” Westman wrote.

Westman wrote that the partner had a birthday coming up and that he didn’t want to get them a gift.

He also wrote about how the partner wanted to have sexual relations with him, but that he himself hated sex.

Minneapolis Catholic school shooter Robin Westman had recently broken up with partner, had ‘mental health’ call made to his home as teen

The father of Robin Westman, 23, told investigators that the shooter had “broke up with a significant and/or romantic partner” and had been staying with a friend.

nypost.com

 

[angelainwi]

The relationship with the person — who was named “Aby” in the Cyrillic code the manifesto was written in and deciphered by The Post — appeared to be on the rocks.

“Aby is such a baby. I should have never started dating them,” Westman wrote.

Westman wrote that the partner had a birthday coming up and that he didn’t want to get them a gift.

He also wrote about how the partner wanted to have sexual relations with him, but that he himself hated sex.

Minneapolis Catholic school shooter Robin Westman had recently broken up with partner, had ‘mental health’ call made to his home as teen

The father of Robin Westman, 23, told investigators that the shooter had “broke up with a significant and/or romantic partner” and had been staying with a friend.

nypost.com

Interesting...lots to unpack.

 

[Kudzuu]

i'm very, very curious about how much time rw spent online... particularly online sites that fueled evil.

jmo

I am very concerned about the amount of time young people spend online feeding their brains what they want. Our years growing up are just that. We grow up learning appropriate behavior, how to love, how to set boundaries, how to understand who we are etc.

The last thing kids need is access to information at their fingertips 24-7.

I'm not sure most parents know what is going on with their kids.

In defence of young people the world they are growing up in is not as stable as when I was young. I didn't have to worry about getting executed at school. Choices were more limited. Many choices were made for me, like what we ate for supper most days, the clothes I wore etc. The TV was off during weekdays until night.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

If a person with clear mental issues was able to legally obtain these guns- which is what happened. Then the process is flawed- something has to be done to either protect the soft targets or keep the guns out of the hands of those who want to commit mass murder.

Agree, yes it is true that semi autos are used to kill destructive or dangerous animals for sport. Unless the entire culture of hunting has changed- I’ve not heard of a semi auto to hunt a deer, elk, or even wild pig for food. I’m not sure 22 caliber is legal for large game- it is too small.
What varmits need a semi auto 22 for control? I’ve never seen a herd of armadillo, or rats- and a 22 is too small to be sure you have killed a coyote or raccoon. All you have to do is miss- and you have showered people with 22 bullets for up to a mile away.
Anyone who needs semi auto 22 for varmits maybe isn’t a good shot and needs shooting lessons?

Most don’t know that it is video games that makes many guns popular- my son knows the types, brands, ammo of guns and he doesn’t even hunt or shoot real guns.

I have no issue with limiting access to guns that are used for mass murder. People ought to be able to go to church, school, the mall, the grocery store without fear of being showered with bullets.
As a gun owner- I want to keep that right. Compromise and common sense is how to protect that right. Drawing a line in the sand without compromise- it isn’t working.
It seems obvious to me that not everyone should have the right to own a gun.

IMO

RBBMFF

First of all nobody should shoot in the direction of houses and populations of people where there’s a danger of hitting someone. No hunter that I know would do that.

There may be some confusion about what a semi-automatic is. One trigger pull doesn’t spray or shower bullets. One trigger pull shoots one bullet. The “automatic” is the fact that it automatically reloads the chamber. You have to again pull the trigger to fire another single round. You can’t hold the trigger down and spray bullets, that would make it automatic or “machine gun”. imo

 

[Sadi]

If a person with clear mental issues was able to legally obtain these guns- which is what happened. Then the process is flawed- something has to be done to either protect the soft targets or keep the guns out of the hands of those who want to commit mass murder.

Agree, yes it is true that semi autos are used to kill destructive or dangerous animals for sport. Unless the entire culture of hunting has changed- I’ve not heard of a semi auto to hunt a deer, elk, or even wild pig for food. I’m not sure 22 caliber is legal for large game- it is too small.
What varmits need a semi auto 22 for control? I’ve never seen a herd of armadillo, or rats- and a 22 is too small to be sure you have killed a coyote or raccoon. All you have to do is miss- and you have showered people with 22 bullets for up to a mile away.
Anyone who needs semi auto 22 for varmits maybe isn’t a good shot and needs shooting lessons?

Most don’t know that it is video games that makes many guns popular- my son knows the types, brands, ammo of guns and he doesn’t even hunt or shoot real guns.

I have no issue with limiting access to guns that are used for mass murder. People ought to be able to go to church, school, the mall, the grocery store without fear of being showered with bullets.
As a gun owner- I want to keep that right. Compromise and common sense is how to protect that right. Drawing a line in the sand without compromise- it isn’t working.
It seems obvious to me that not everyone should have the right to own a gun.

IMO

I’m curious to know when and where the guns/ammunition were purchased. Especially the automatic. Did he go to a gun range to practice? I have no experience or knowledge of guns, but wondering if it would seem odd that he purchased three of them. Did the seller(s) ask him any questions? How did he pay for these if he wasn’t working? I’m in MN and not too far from where the shooting happened and will go to the church one day this week to pay my respects. It’s been a sad week here.

 

[Dawookie]

If a person with clear mental issues was able to legally obtain these guns- which is what happened. Then the process is flawed- something has to be done to either protect the soft targets or keep the guns out of the hands of those who want to commit mass murder.

Agree, yes it is true that semi autos are used to kill destructive or dangerous animals for sport. Unless the entire culture of hunting has changed- I’ve not heard of a semi auto to hunt a deer, elk, or even wild pig for food. I’m not sure 22 caliber is legal for large game- it is too small.
What varmits need a semi auto 22 for control? I’ve never seen a herd of armadillo, or rats- and a 22 is too small to be sure you have killed a coyote or raccoon. All you have to do is miss- and you have showered people with 22 bullets for up to a mile away.
Anyone who needs semi auto 22 for varmits maybe isn’t a good shot and needs shooting lessons?

Most don’t know that it is video games that makes many guns popular- my son knows the types, brands, ammo of guns and he doesn’t even hunt or shoot real guns.

I have no issue with limiting access to guns that are used for mass murder. People ought to be able to go to church, school, the mall, the grocery store without fear of being showered with bullets.
As a gun owner- I want to keep that right. Compromise and common sense is how to protect that right. Drawing a line in the sand without compromise- it isn’t working.
It seems obvious to me that not everyone should have the right to own a gun.

IMO

The process is most definitely flawed but nothing gets done about fixing the flaws until something bad happens. Non public schools Schools had asked for more money in 2022 and 2023 for security from the state and the legislature didn't pass any bills for it. So theresls been failures across multiple levels leading up to this shooting.

Remington was making semiautomatic hunting rifles back in the 1950s. There's multiple semiautomatic rifles on the market that aren't AR platform. Using a semi auto to hunt big game isn't a new thing and most states have a magazine limit if using one to hunt. And with the AR platform you can build them to use larger calibers suitable for taking down most bigger game.

A .22 with good shot placement will definitely take down coyotes and raccoons, especially if it's a .22WMR or .22 Hornet. Prairie dogs , Nutria Beaver etc can all be taken down with small caliber weapons. People using them for varmint control arent going to be pulling the trigger willy nilly and spraying ammunition like that. Using a semiautomatic for hunting or varmint control because it makes it easier for follow up shots if you do make a bad shot.

Asking to limit guns that are used to commit mass shootings would limit pretty much every gun made. Handguns by far are used the most but the media barely reports on them. Glocks equipped with a switch, making them fully automatic, are increasingly being used but the media doesn't cover them like they do when an AR platform is used. When those shooters are caught, they are hardly ever prosecuted at the federal level and states are now having to add new laws to deal with it. Same thing with people straw buying for people who shouldn't have guns, they are rarely prosecuted despite it being a federal crime to do so.

As a fellow gun owner I agree that they are people that shouldn't be allowed to have a gun. But until they fix all the support systems in place to prevent that, sadly there will be people who get their hands on them. And you are 100% right that drawing a line in the sand without compromise isn't working but the law makers don't see that. I live in a state that has some of the strictest gun control laws on the books but when criminals get caught using guns in a crime, they are allowed to plea down to lighter sentences. The ones that suffer are the ones who actually follow the laws.