An inscription above the doors of the Church of Annunciation in south Minneapolis proclaims its sanctuary to be “the House of God and the gate of Heaven.”
On Wednesday, that sanctuary was torn apart by violence when a shooter opened fire through the church’s stained-glass windows during a school Mass. The gunfire left two children dead and 17 others wounded, including 14 students and three elderly parishioners. Authorities confirmed the suspect later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A moment of terror
Fifth grader Weston Halsne, 10, recalled the horrifying moment as shots rang out just a few feet away from where he sat.
“It was like right beside me … I think I got gunpowder on my neck,” Weston told reporters. “The first one, I was like, ‘What is that?’ and then I heard it again and I just ran under the pew.”
In the chaos, Weston said a friend dove on top of him to shield him from the bullets. “(He) saved me though because he laid on top of me, but he got hit,” he said, adding that his friend was struck in the back. “He’s really brave, and I hope he’s good in the hospital.”
Police response and investigation
Minneapolis police described the attack as a “deliberate act of violence.” Investigators said the shooter had recently purchased multiple firearms but did not appear to have a prior criminal record. Authorities have not released a motive.
“This is a devastating day for our city and our community,” a police spokesperson said. “Children were targeted in a place they should feel safest—inside their school and church.”
A community bound by faith
For many in the neighborhood, the Church of Annunciation is more than a building; it is a legacy spanning generations.
Patrick Scallen, who lives a block away, attended the church school as a child, just as his father had before him. He said the tragedy feels deeply personal.
“Just this morning, I saw a family of kids who go to the school,” Scallen told CNN. “I thought to myself in that moment, ‘What a wonderful thing Annunciation is.’ And now, this.”
Parents, students, and parishioners gathered outside the church after the shooting, many clutching hands and praying. “Can you just please hold my hand?” one child was heard asking as sirens wailed.
Looking ahead
As the community mourns the two young lives lost, vigils are being planned at local parishes. Counseling services are being made available for students and families affected by the tragedy.
Local officials say the incident underscores the ongoing crisis of gun violence in the U.S., particularly when schools and places of worship are no longer safe havens.
For parishioners of the Church of Annunciation, the words above its entrance — “the House of God and the gate of Heaven” — now carry an even heavier weight, as the community turns to faith for healing after unimaginable loss.