The mother of an eighth-grade student who was shot this morning has issued a statement praising first responders and expressing her grief for those harmed in the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.
In the hours since a gunman opened fire at Annunciation, authorities have identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman. According to law enforcement, Westman opened fire on students and others who were attending a morning Mass service.
Two children were killed and 19 others, 14 of them children, were injured. Police have said Westman killed himself at the scene.
In the aftermath of the shooting, officials have said adults shielded students from gunfire and older students protected younger students during the heinous attack.
One of the students injured in the attack was the eighth-grade son of Danielle Gunter. In a statement to the press, Gunter said her son was shot but is alive after a Minneapolis police officer rendered aid.
“Our son was shot at school today, inside a church praying with his classmates.
“Our hearts are shattered – not only for him, but for everyone who was harmed. We grieve and we pray: for the others who were shot, for their families, and for those who lost loved ones.
“And for the first responders, who raced into danger for others, for us. We thank them all. Our son shared with us that an MPD officer ‘really helped him.’ He said the officer rendered aid, hugged him, reassured him, and prayed with him before getting into the ambulance.
“We ask for leaders to place armed security at schools to prevent another tragedy like this. There is no higher calling than keeping kids safe—and it starts with protecting them from evil in this world.
“We feel the pain, the anger, the confusion, and the searing reality that our lives will never be the same. Yet we still have our child.
“Unlike others, we are blessed to hold onto him. We will help him rebuild his life, his trust, and his confidence.
“We don’t want others to ever feel the same. And we pray that everyone touched by this tragedy can find the strength to begin rebuilding too.”
Alpha News has confirmed that the shooter’s legal name was changed in 2020 when he was 17-years-old. The change was requested by Westman’s mother, Grace, on her son’s behalf.
“Minor child identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification,” says the court order which changed Westman’s name from Robert to Robin.
Additionally, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Nome issued a statement saying “We have confirmation that the shooter at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, MN was a 23 year-old man, claiming to be transgender.”
Liz Collin contributed to this report.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
