A shooting occurred at a Catholic school in the southern part of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 27th, resulting in the deaths of 2 children and injuring 18 people. On the 28th, police said the shooter, Westman, fired 116 rounds with a rifle.
According to the police, investigators are meticulously reviewing videos, written materials, and activities related to the shooter, but so far, it is still unclear why the 23-year-old suspect Westman opened fire from outside the stained glass windows of the church, during the first week of school and while the students were attending mass at Annunciation Catholic School.
Police said that Westman had attended this school and was also a member of the church.
Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara said on NBC's “Today” show on the 28th, “Everything we are currently observing are typical signs leading up to a shooting,” but a clear, specific triggering factor for this serious act of hate on the 27th has not yet been found.
He said that investigators have collected hundreds of pieces of evidence from the church and three residencies and are applying for search warrants to explore related devices. They have found more written materials left by the shooter, but no other firearms.
Westman left behind videos and lengthy handwritten notes recording various dissatisfactions. In one entry, he wrote: “I know this is wrong, but I just can’t seem to control myself.”
FBI Director Patel stated on social media that the attack was an act of domestic terrorism driven by hate ideology, and mentioned that the shooter had previously made remarks against multiple religions and violent threats against President Trump.