In a shocking incident that unfolded in Minneapolis, a man identified as Robin Westman opened fire at a Catholic school, resulting in the tragic death of two students and injuries to 17 others.
The weapons used in this horrifying act were confirmed to be legally acquired, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara.
The 23-year-old Westman was branded a "coward" by O'Hara for his actions during a Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School, which was marking the commencement of the academic year. "The shooter had in his possession a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, all of which were lawfully purchased," O'Hara disclosed.
He further added, "At this point, our investigation suggests that the shooter acted alone. We have found no evidence to suggest the involvement of other suspects in this attack."
In response to a query about the source of Westman's weapons, O'Hara simply stated, "They were acquired recently." As reported by Fox News, O'Hara, during his appearance on NBC's "Today" show, revealed that four search warrants were executed the previous day.
These included the church where the shooting took place and three residential locations in the MinneapolisSaint Paul area.
O'Hara elaborated on the ongoing investigation, stating, "We did not recover any additional firearms yesterday. However, we have collected hundreds of pieces of evidence that need to be examined.
The FBI is assisting us in analyzing some additional writings. We are likely to apply for more electronic search warrants to examine devices. Our primary focus remains on examining all possible evidence to ascertain the motive behind this shooting."
The Police Chief further noted that the evidence gathered so far points towards a typical active shooter scenario, characterized by hatred towards a diverse group of people. However, he admitted that they have yet to identify a specific motive for the attack on this particular church.
O'Hara also expressed relief that the situation was not worse. "Thankfully, everyone is expected to survive. The school and church's safety procedures, which included locking the church doors after the Mass began, likely saved many lives. The shooter was forced to fire from outside, through the church windows," he said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed that it had completed tracing the firearms found at the scene. However, the agency's St. Paul office stated that this information was exclusively for investigative partners and would not be made public.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Annunciation Church released a statement praising the swift actions of their staff, who moved students to safety under the pews within seconds. The church also acknowledged the quick response of law enforcement, who evacuated everyone to safety once it was safe to do so.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey commended the bravery of the faculty and police officers, stating, "As horrible as this was, it could have been a whole lot worse but for the incredibly brave faculty and teachers that protected these kids from harm, the police officers that ran towards danger when the rest of us could have ran in the other direction."
The mother of one of the students injured in the shooting, Danielle Gunter, released a heartfelt statement expressing her grief and praying for the victims and their families.
First Lady Melania Trump also weighed in on the incident, highlighting the need for early intervention in identifying potential school shooters. She emphasized the importance of behavioral threat assessments across all societal levels, including homes, schools, and social media platforms.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for effective measures to prevent such acts of violence and protect our communities. The bravery of the school staff and law enforcement officers in this incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness and swift action in the face of danger.
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