A horrifying mass shooting occurred at a Catholic church in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, leaving two children dead and 17 others injured. The attack, which took place during a school mass marking the start of the academic year, is now being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics, according to Kash Patel of the FBI.

The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Robin Westman, entered the school armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol before opening fire on children during the religious service. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that the gunman began shooting from outside the church through the windows, targeting children seated in the pews.

Westman reportedly died by suicide following the attack. Preliminary reports suggest that he had posted threats against former U.S. President Donald Trump and Republicans on social media. However, these claims remain unverified, and the motive for choosing a church as the target is still unclear.

This incident is the fourth such violent episode in Minneapolis since Tuesday. In previous high-profile cases, former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in June, and a state senator and his wife were critically injured in another shooting.

According to FBI Director’s statement on X, the two fatalities were an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. Among the 17 injured were 14 children and 3 adults. Federal agencies have joined local police to conduct a full investigation into the tragedy.

Following the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered all American flags to be flown at half-staff across public buildings and the White House until sunset on Sunday, August 31, as a mark of respect for the victims. “I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

President Trump, who is currently focused on curbing violence in U.S. cities, has deployed federal and military personnel to patrol Washington and warned that similar measures could extend to other high-crime cities.