Witnesses to a mass shooting in the US city of Minneapolis have described the terrifying scenes after an attacker opened fire on a church in which children were celebrating Mass on Wednesday morning. One young boy described being protected by a friend who got hit himself. Two children were killed and 17 others injured in an incident that the FBI is treating as an anti-Catholic hate crime.
The attacker, named as 23-year-old Robin Westman, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities have not yet given a suspected motive. Westman was a former pupil of the school that is adjacent to the church, previously worked at the establishment.
The young survivor, 10-year-old Weston Halsne, explained to CBS that his friend saved him from bullets by lying on top of him. 'I was like two seats away from the stained glass window,' he said. 'My friend, Victor, saved me though, because he laid on top of me, but he got hit.'
Local residents described the moment the shooting began, with some believing it was construction noise at first. People were left in shock, having witnessed children fleeing the church, some injured and covered in blood. Hundreds attended a vigil later for the victims.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed the need for change, stating that the situation is 'all too common' across the country. This tragic event has sparked outrage and deep concern within the community and beyond.
The attacker, named as 23-year-old Robin Westman, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities have not yet given a suspected motive. Westman was a former pupil of the school that is adjacent to the church, previously worked at the establishment.
The young survivor, 10-year-old Weston Halsne, explained to CBS that his friend saved him from bullets by lying on top of him. 'I was like two seats away from the stained glass window,' he said. 'My friend, Victor, saved me though, because he laid on top of me, but he got hit.'
Local residents described the moment the shooting began, with some believing it was construction noise at first. People were left in shock, having witnessed children fleeing the church, some injured and covered in blood. Hundreds attended a vigil later for the victims.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed the need for change, stating that the situation is 'all too common' across the country. This tragic event has sparked outrage and deep concern within the community and beyond.
