The city of Minneapolis has been left reeling after a horrifying school shooting on Tuesday claimed the lives of two children and left 17 others injured at a Catholic school on the city’s south side. Authorities confirmed late Tuesday evening that the two young victims who tragically lost their lives were the children of two high-ranking officials from the New York City area, a revelation that has only intensified the emotional gravity of the tragedy.
According to Minneapolis police, the shooting took place just after 10:30 a.m. at Saint Mary’s Catholic School, a private K-8 institution that has long been considered a safe haven for students in the community. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as a gunman entered the school through a side entrance and opened fire in a crowded hallway near the cafeteria, striking multiple students before fleeing. Parents, staff, and first responders rushed to the scene, with frantic families gathering outside as they awaited news of their children’s safety.
Officials have identified the deceased as the son of a senior official with the New York Police Department and the daughter of a deputy commissioner from the New York City Mayor’s Office. Both children had been temporarily enrolled at Saint Mary’s while their families were in Minneapolis for professional obligations. Authorities said their families had been in the city for only a matter of weeks, making the tragedy even more unfathomable.
The 17 injured include 13 students and four staff members, some of whom remain in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center. Doctors have said the coming 48 hours will be crucial for several victims who sustained life-threatening injuries. The gunman, identified by police as 19-year-old former student Robin Westman, was taken into custody less than an hour after the shooting following a manhunt that stretched into neighboring neighborhoods. Police said Westman had posted a manifesto online prior to the attack, though they declined to release details, citing the ongoing investigation.
News of the victims’ identities has rippled through both Minneapolis and New York City, with leaders in both cities expressing grief and outrage. New York City Mayor Eric Adams released a statement late Tuesday, calling the tragedy “beyond comprehension” and offering his deepest condolences to the families of the victims. “These families came to Minneapolis with the hope of continuing their important public service work while keeping their children safe,” Adams said. “Instead, they are facing a nightmare that no parent should ever endure.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, also issued a statement urging prayer and solidarity. “The Catholic community in New York stands united in grief with our brothers and sisters in Minneapolis,” Dolan said. “Two precious lives have been lost, and countless more have been forever scarred.”
In Minneapolis, the community is grappling with a sense of disbelief. Parents and students gathered outside Saint Mary’s on Tuesday night, lighting candles, singing hymns, and leaving flowers at the school gates. Many described the children who died as bright, joyful, and deeply loved. “They were the kind of kids who made others laugh, who brought light into the classroom,” said one teacher who declined to give her name. “Now that light has been stolen from all of us.”
The shooting has reignited heated debates about gun violence in schools, particularly as it comes on the heels of several other high-profile incidents across the United States in recent months. Advocates for gun control were quick to call for renewed legislation to restrict access to firearms, while opponents stressed the importance of addressing mental health issues and school security.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the attack as an “act of pure evil” and vowed to pursue answers. “We cannot continue to allow our schools, our churches, and our communities to be places where our children are slaughtered,” Walz said. He confirmed that federal authorities, including the FBI and ATF, are assisting in the investigation.
As the families of the victims prepare for unimaginable funerals, the nation once again finds itself mourning young lives lost in a setting meant for growth and safety. The fact that the children belonged to prominent public officials has underscored a painful truth: gun violence spares no one, regardless of status or circumstance.
For now, both Minneapolis and New York are united in grief, with leaders promising accountability, answers, and above all, remembrance of the children who should have had their entire futures ahead of them. Their names have not yet been released at the request of the families, but their stories will now become part of the ever-growing tragedy of America’s struggle with gun violence.
