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FBI Probes Minneapolis Church Mass Shooting as Possible Domestic Terror Attack

Investigators cite videos and writings showing broad hatred with a fixation on mass killings, prompting an FBI domestic terrorism review.

Overview

  • Authorities identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who fired 116 rifle rounds through stained-glass windows during a back-to-school Mass and died by suicide.
  • Two students, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, were killed, and officials say 15 other children and three parishioners in their 80s were injured.
  • Police say surveillance video shows the attacker never entered the church and could not see those inside while firing from outside.
  • Investigators recovered hundreds of pieces of evidence, including videos and writings that express sweeping hatred, admiration for mass murderers, and an obsession with killing children.
  • Officials report no prior arrests that would have barred Westman from buying guns, and police records released about past contacts were heavily redacted.