On August 27, 2025, two children were killed and 18 others wounded during a first-week-of-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, died when former student Robin Westman, 23, fired over 100 rounds through church windows from outside the building.
The FBI is investigating the attack as domestic terrorism and an anti-Catholic hate crime. FBI Director Kash Patel called it “a barbaric attack motivated by hate-filled ideology.” The shooter died by self-inflicted gunshot wound after the four-minute rampage that targeted children celebrating the start of the school year.
The Attack
The shooting occurred at 8:27 AM at Annunciation Catholic Church, located at 509 W. 54th Street in Minneapolis. Westman approached from the side, dressed in black tactical gear, and fired through narrow stained-glass windows toward pews where children were seated. The shooter never entered the building—church doors were locked according to standard protocol once Mass began, a security measure Police Chief Brian O’Hara credited with “likely saving countless lives.”
Westman fired 116 rifle rounds, 3 shotgun shells, and attempted to use a pistol that jammed. The shooter barricaded side doors from outside and deployed a smoke grenade. Eighteen people were injured—15 children ages 6-15 and 3 elderly parishioners in their 80s—though all injured victims are expected to survive. Police arrived within four minutes.
Remembering the Victims
Fletcher Merkel loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport he was allowed to play. The third-grader was the second youngest of four children. His father Jesse issued a public statement asking that Fletcher be remembered “for the person he was, and not the act that ended his life.”
“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son, Fletcher, away from us,” Jesse Merkel said. “We will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming.”
Harper Moyski, 10, was described by her parents Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin as “a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.” Her family said they are “shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.”
Fletcher’s funeral was held September 7, 2025, at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. Harper’s parents urged leaders to “take meaningful steps to address gun violence and the mental health crisis in this country.”
The Shooter and Investigation
Robin M. Westman was a former Annunciation student who graduated 8th grade in 2017. Born Robert Paul Westman in 2002, the shooter legally changed names to Robin M. Westman in January 2020 at age 17. Westman’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, had worked as parish secretary at Annunciation from 2016-2021.
Westman’s obsession with mass shooters traced back to 7th grade, when suspended for asking a classmate “if there was a school shooting, where would you hide?” The FBI recovered hundreds of pages of writings, mostly in Cyrillic script as a cipher, revealing extensive study of past mass killers including Adam Lanza, Dylan Roof, and Robert Bowers. Names of these shooters were written on the weapons used in the attack.
The shooter explicitly stated the motive was seeking notoriety: “I don’t want to do it to spread a message. I do it to please myself. I do it because I am sick.” Chief O’Hara confirmed that “ultimately the purpose of the shooter’s actions was to obtain notoriety.”
However, the manifesto and weapon markings contained extensive hate speech targeting Catholics, Jews, racial minorities, and others, leading to the domestic terrorism classification. Westman had been unemployed since leaving a job at RISE marijuana dispensary on August 16, 2025—just 11 days before the shooting.
Investigators collected 258 pieces of evidence across four search warrant locations. The shooter’s mother has hired criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry and has provided limited cooperation. Westman had no prior criminal history and purchased all three firearms legally.
Community Response
The Minneapolis community raised over $4 million in support within the first week. The Annunciation Hope and Healing Fund established by the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota raised over $1.2 million, while individual GoFundMe campaigns collected over $3 million.
The Minneapolis Foundation established a text-to-donate line—text “ACF1” to 41444—at the city’s request. Blood donation drives were organized due to substantial use of the local blood supply for treating victims.
A vigil at Lynnhurst Park drew over 1,000 attendees. Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis expressed that his “heart is broken” and called for “an end to gun violence.” Pope Leo XIV sent condolences, expressing “heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy.”
President Trump and Governor Tim Walz ordered flags to half-staff. Enhanced patrols were implemented around Minneapolis schools and religious institutions through September 5.
Security Implications
The attack has prompted comprehensive security reassessments across Catholic institutions nationwide. The church had minimal security measures beyond locking doors during Mass and conducting three annual lockdown drills, with no armed security personnel present.
Security experts recommend three key improvements: install security cameras, fortify doors with enhanced locks, and consider ballistic film for windows. Security firm Strategos International reported a “flood of calls” from religious institutions seeking training. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced Catholic schools would update security plans, while Chicago’s Archdiocese announced plans for active shooter drills in churches.
The Minnesota Catholic Conference had previously requested state funding for security upgrades at nonpublic schools in 2022 and 2023, seeking $44 per student for security costs, but these requests went unanswered.
The main church sanctuary remains closed as it is still considered a crime scene, with services moved to the school auditorium. Archbishop Hebda stated the church will need to be reconsecrated before returning to normal use. Annunciation Catholic School also remains closed with no definitive reopening date.
Conclusion
The Annunciation Catholic Church shooting represents a devastating attack on innocence and faith. The deaths of Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski highlight the vulnerability of children and the urgent need for approaches to preventing mass violence.
While the shooter’s quest for notoriety has been documented through extensive evidence, the investigation continues. The community’s response—raising over $4 million and organizing countless acts of solidarity—demonstrates collective healing in the face of senseless violence.
As Catholic institutions nationwide reassess security measures and law enforcement continues its terrorism investigation, the memory of these two young victims calls for sustained commitment to protecting the vulnerable while preserving the openness that defines religious communities.
Note: The FBI investigation remains ongoing. This article is based on official statements from law enforcement, victim family statements, and verified news reports.
Leave a Reply