While students at Segerstrom are looking forward to the end of the week and a football game, for many students in Minneapolis another school shooting casts a shadow over the back-to-school season. On August 27, 2025, at around 8:00 a.m., Annunciation Church and Catholic School called local authorities about a shooting. The suspect, a 23-year-old named Robert Westman (given name Robin Westman), a graduate of the school, had allegedly obtained three guns illegally. Before the incident, students entered the building, after which the church locked the doors. The shooter then arrived and used these weapons to fire through the windows, taking the lives of two children (8 and 10 years old) and injuring 17 others (2 being in critical conditions) before ending his own life.
After everything was contained, many news outlets captured Mayor Jacob Frey dashing towards the scene, just like many mothers and fathers who ran to grab their children. Mayor Frey was seen on the church steps, obviously emotionally distraught about this crime. Holding a press conference, Mayor Frey called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” he stated. Later on, he spoke on how these children were praying in a church at the time of the shooting, where such crimes like this should never happen.
Once investigators combed through the shooter’s media and electronics, it was shown that the shooter had been planning this attack. The shooter posted videos about three years ago discussing extremely violent thoughts and ideas along with having a handwritten sketch of what would be seen as the layout of the church. Before the FBI took down these videos, it was shown that the suspect posted barrels and magazines with political messages and memes drawn on them.
The school year here at Segerstrom began without flaw and with students enjoying routine. For those at Annunciation Catholic school, the day began with excitement for new possibilities and ended in tragedy.
