Tragedy Strikes Minneapolis School Community

Minneapolis is “united in grief” following a tragic school shooting on Wednesday that left 17 children injured, according to Mayor Jacob Frey.

In a Thursday morning interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Frey praised the teachers and staff for their courage, stating they “protected these children from harm” and were “incredibly brave.” He also commended the police officers who “ran into danger when the rest of us could run in other directions.”

“This is a terrible tragedy,” Frey remarked, reflecting on the frequent nature of such incidents. He noted, “I’ve heard politicians label this as an unspeakable tragedy, yet it happens again and again. Thoughts and prayers are certainly not enough.”

The mayor emphasized the urgent need for change, stating, “We don’t have the luxury of waiting a month and a half, nor can we rely on other officials to address the tragedies occurring in their cities,” during his conversation with ABC’s Rebecca Jarvis.

The shooting occurred at a Catholic school during Mass, resulting in the deaths of two children, aged 8 and 10. Law enforcement identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who barricaded the church door and subsequently ended his own life.

According to police reports, Westman was armed with a shotgun, rifle, and pistol at the time. FBI director Kash Patel later confirmed that Westman identified as transgender, and the shooting is being investigated as a potential domestic terrorist act and hate crime against Catholics.

Frey expressed concern about mental health, insisting that individuals with “serious” issues should not have access to firearms. “This incident highlights a critical issue regarding gun access. Denying that this is about guns is misguided. We must take action; other countries are not experiencing this level of violence,” he said.

He extended his thoughts to the families of the victims, emphasizing, “We must consider them not as ‘other’s children,’ but as our own. Think about how you would feel. Reflect on your last interaction with your child this morning… All parents expect their children to return home safely, and tragically, that didn’t happen for these parents.”