“I’m praying for you”: A 10-Year-Old’s Courage Under Fire 🕊️
Weston Halsne, 10, was seated a few feet from the stained glass inside Annunciation Catholic Church when shots shattered the start-of-year Mass. In a quiet voice, he described how his friend Victor shielded him as glass and noise erupted around the pews.
“My friend Victor saved me because he laid on top of me,” Weston said, adding a simple message for his classmate: “I’m praying for you.”
Shots Through Stained Glass During Back-to-School Mass ⛪
The first school liturgy of the year turned into chaos when a gunman fired from outside through the church windows toward children and worshippers. Students ducked behind pews as adults kept voices calm and movements deliberate.
Witnesses described a shower of glass and a scramble to make themselves small and still, following directions until it was safe to move.
Toll and Conditions: Two Children Killed, 17 Injured 📊
Officials said two children—ages 8 and 10—were killed. Another 17 people were injured, including 14 children. Hospitals cautioned that conditions can change in the first 24–48 hours as surgeries conclude and families are briefed.
City leaders emphasized relying on official updates as medical teams complete evaluations.
How Children Reached Safety: “We Waited in the Gym” 🚸
After the gunfire, students were moved away from windows and then relocated to the gym when directed. Doors were secured, and children waited for instructions and family reunification.
Weston said he had practiced lockdown drills at school—but never inside the church—highlighting a gap shared by many combined church–school campuses.
Law-Enforcement Briefing: Shooter Fired From Outside 🚔
Authorities said the attacker approached from the exterior and fired a rifle through windows toward the pews. A massive response flooded West 54th Street as officers secured the perimeter and coordinated medical triage.
Investigators are assembling a minute-by-minute timeline using shell casings, surveillance, digital traces, and eyewitness accounts.
Suspect Status: Identity and Cause of Death 🧾
Law-enforcement sources identified the suspect as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound near the church’s rear area, according to CBS Minnesota’s reporting.
Officials continue to refine the timeline as evidence is processed.
Family Voices: “Nothing This Precious Little Boy Did…” 👨👦
Outside the campus, Weston’s grandfather Michael Simpson called the attack “inexplainable,” saying his grandson and classmates “did nothing to deserve this.” Parents and neighbors formed small circles of care as reunifications unfolded.
In moments like this, quiet support—rides, meals, childcare swaps—often matters as much as big gestures.
Faith Community: Prayers and Counseling Plans 🕯️
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis asked the faithful to pray for all those affected and began coordinating vigils and counseling resources with parishes across the metro.
Expect school and parish channels to prioritize service information and privacy protections in the days ahead.
Information Hygiene: Share Facts, Protect Children 🧼
Officials urged residents to avoid speculation and share only verified updates. Newsrooms are minimizing identifiers for minors and avoiding graphic detail.
Families who wish to keep early-week school photos public are being advised to disable comments and remove precise locations.
Outlook: Healing, Transparency, and Steady Support 🏁
The immediate priority is care—for the injured, for classmates, for staff. As investigators complete lab work and interviews, the city will share more. For the wider community, the path is clear: lift verified resources and keep compassion at the center.
Weston’s simple refrain to his friend—“I’m praying for you”—has become the city’s refrain.
Pediatric Care: What “Critical but Stable” Usually Means 🏥
After mass-casualty events, hospitals use categories like critical, serious, and stable to signal risk and progress. Pediatric teams coordinate surgery, pain control, and infection prevention while social workers support families at the bedside.
Updates often arrive in measured intervals to protect privacy and allow clinicians to focus. Families can expect written summaries and points of contact for questions.
School-Based Counseling: Moving From Shock to Support 🧠
In the first weeks, schools typically open drop-in rooms, schedule small-group sessions, and provide one-to-one counseling for students and staff. Trauma-informed routines—predictable schedules and clear instructions—reduce anxiety.
Parents will see more counselors on campus and regular emails about when and how students can access help.
How to Talk With Kids: Age-Right, Honest, Brief 👨👩👧👦
Use simple, truthful language. Younger kids need concrete reassurances—who keeps them safe and what will happen today. Older children benefit from time-boxed conversations and permission to take breaks.
Normalize feelings: fear, anger, and numbness are common. Watch for sleep changes, withdrawal, or sudden behavior shifts.
Teacher Toolkit: The First Week Back in Class 📚
Start with predictable routines and short activities that rebuild attention. Offer opt-outs for noisy assemblies or crowded spaces. Seating charts can place friends together if that helps a child feel grounded.
Post visible schedules and give five-minute warnings before transitions to reduce startle and confusion.
Vigils & Memorials: Respect, Privacy, and Consent 🕯️
Community rituals help people mourn, but families’ wishes come first. Avoid posting close-ups of minors and ask before sharing names or images from services.
Organizers can provide media-free zones and clear signage so attendees know where photos are allowed.
Lessons for Shared Church–School Campuses ⛪
Extend drills and PA coverage to sanctuaries, gyms, and multi-use halls. Ensure plain-language alerts reach every room and that staff know rally points for staged movement.
Walk routes with students at calm times; muscle memory matters when seconds count.
Building Design: Glass, Sightlines, and Safe Positions 🏛️
Exterior-fire scenarios highlight the value of laminated glazing, blinds, and interior sightline breaks. Pews and aisles can be re-thought to create lower profiles and quicker movement to cover.
Small changes—privacy film, interior dividers, and marked shelter spots—improve odds without altering sacred spaces.
Emergency Comms: Reunification Without Rumors 📢
Publish a single, pinned update with time-stamped posts. Use SMS or app alerts for families; avoid multiple unofficial channels that spread confusion.
Map reunification sites clearly and designate a hotline for verification so caregivers aren’t chasing rumors.
Volunteers & Donations: What Helps Right Now 🤝
Ask organizers what’s needed before buying supplies. Gift cards for groceries, pharmacies, and fuel often help more than items. For volunteers, background-checked roles (childcare, rides) beat ad-hoc offers.
Track hours and donations for transparency and future reporting to donors.
Pastoral Care: Faith Practices that Soothe, Not Startle 🙏
Short, calm services with gentle music and opportunities for quiet reflection often serve children and exhausted adults best. Consider childcare corners and sensory-friendly seating.
Clergy can coordinate with counselors so spiritual care and clinical care work in tandem.
Donor Transparency: Turning Generosity Into Trust 💳
Publish how funds will be used—counseling, memorials, security upgrades—and issue simple monthly tallies. Clear paperwork deters scams and builds confidence.
Use a single donation portal when possible to reduce confusion and fees.
Secondary Trauma: Caring for Siblings and Staff 🫂
Those not physically injured can still carry heavy stress. Watch for startle responses, appetite changes, and avoidance of previously safe spaces.
Offer flexible attendance and quiet zones for staff and students who need time to re-acclimate.
Media & Minors: Ethics That Protect Families 📷
Responsible coverage avoids naming minors without consent, blurs faces, and focuses on context over close-ups. Families can request blurred images or removals when posts feel invasive.
Editors can link to counseling and official resources alongside stories to keep the focus on help.
The Year Ahead: A Recovery Timeline That Leaves Room to Breathe 📅
Weeks 1–4: stabilize, grieve, and adjust routines. Months 2–6: memorial planning, safety upgrades, and expanded counseling. Months 7–12: measure what helped and set long-term supports.
Recovery is not linear; calendars flex so people can, too.
Community Resilience: Holding On to What Matters 🌱
The memory of kindness—kids shielding friends, neighbors opening homes—often outlasts the noise. Keep amplifying what heals: verified info, practical help, and patient listening.
That is how a city honors its children and steadies itself for the days to come.
