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FBI Treats Minneapolis Church Shooting as Domestic Terrorism After Attack Kills Two Children

Federal investigators have opened a domestic terrorism hate-crime probe focused on the suspect’s videos and writings.

Overview

  • Police identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who fired 116 rifle rounds through stained-glass windows during a school Mass before dying by suicide.
  • Authorities named the students killed as Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10; fifteen other children and three parishioners in their 80s were injured, with one child in critical condition.
  • Surveillance footage shows the attacker never entered the sanctuary and could not see the children while firing from outside.
  • Investigators collected hundreds of pieces of evidence from the church and three residences, citing material that lauds mass murderers and includes anti-religious statements and calls for violence against President Donald Trump, with no clear motive established.
  • Police say Westman used a rifle, shotgun and pistol obtained legally and had no disqualifying record, as state and local officials boosted security at schools and churches.