One of the 17 people injured in the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis has been identified as 13-year-old Endre Gunter.
Gunter was shot in the stomach on Wednesday, August 27, when gunfire erupted during a back-to-school Mass. The suspected gunman, 23-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire at the church’s windows around 8:30 a.m.
Gunter’s mother told CNN her son had been inside the church, praying with his classmates, when he was hit. She described how a Minneapolis police officer rushed to help him, offering first aid and even praying with him until paramedics arrived. “The officer rendered aid, hugged him, reassured him, and prayed with him before he got into the ambulance,” she said.
The teenager was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. His mother said the family is now focused on helping him “rebuild his life, his trust, and his confidence.” She added: “We pray that everyone touched by this tragedy can find the strength to begin rebuilding too.”
The Shooting and Its Victims
According to police, Westman used multiple weapons, including a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, during the attack. Inside the church at the time were dozens of students, teachers, and parishioners.
In total, 14 children aged 6 to 15 were injured, along with three elderly parishioners in their 80s. Tragically, two children—an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old—were killed. Authorities have not yet released their names.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the back of the church. He also said Westman had no prior criminal history, though investigators later discovered a manifesto he tried to upload to YouTube. The video, which has since been removed by federal agents, included disturbing writings and footage of Westman at the scene.
Students’ Brave Accounts
Several children who survived the attack have shared their frightening experiences.
One 10-year-old student, Weston Halsne, said his friend shielded him from bullets. “My friend Victor saved me because he laid on top of me, but he got hit,” Halsne told KARE 11. He added that he hid under a pew once shots rang out. “He’s brave, and I hope he’s good in the hospital,” Halsne said.
Another parent, Vincent Francoual, said his 11-year-old daughter Chloe was inside the church when the shooting began. “It was very emotional. She saw me first, and she just cried,” he told MSNBC. Francoual said Chloe feels guilty that she couldn’t do more to help her classmates and told him she thought she “was going to die today.”
Ongoing Investigation
Police Chief O’Hara said that while all victims are expected to survive, many remain hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries. Some children were treated for graze wounds, while others had more serious and life-threatening injuries.
Federal authorities are now treating the case as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that investigators are working to uncover more details about Westman’s motives and background.
Community in Mourning
The Minneapolis community has been left shaken by the violence. The loss of two young lives and the trauma experienced by survivors has deeply impacted families, teachers, parishioners, and first responders.
For Gunter’s family, the road ahead will be long, but his mother says they are grateful he survived. “We just want to help him heal,” she said. “We hope everyone affected can begin to heal too.”
