In the days following the attack in which four people were killed and eight more were wounded at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, Mormons who were grieving the tragedy did the unthinkable: They began raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the family of the man who shot and killed Latter-day Saints.
A <a href="https://www.givesendgo.com/helptheSanfordfamily">GiveSendGo fundraiser</a> set up for the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford has raised more than $265,000, with many of the donations coming from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2025/10/01/lds-mormon-church-shooting-fundraiser-sanford/">reported</a>. On Sunday, Sanford drove his truck into the building of a Latter-day Saints church in Grand Blanc Township before stepping out of the vehicle and opening fire with a semiautomatic rifle, according to authorities. Sanford was also suspected of setting a fire to the church building before responding police officers killed him.
Four people were killed in the attack, which appeared to be motivated by the gunman’s hostility toward Mormons. While federal authorities have not officially released a motive for the deadly attack, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-believe-michigan-church-shooter-hated-people-of-the-mormon-faith?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Feds+Believe+Michigan+Church+Shooter+%E2%80%98Hated+People+Of+The+Mormon+Faith%E2%80%99">told</a> “Fox &amp; Friends” earlier this week that federal authorities believe Sanford “hated people of the Mormon faith.”
After the attack, multiple fundraisers were started for victims of the shooting, but one Latter-day Saint living in Utah also wanted to reach out to the family of the shooter, whom he said are also “victims” of the tragedy, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/lds-church-michigan-grand-blanc-township.html">The New York Times</a>.
“One of the families that suffered a terrible loss on that day was the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter,” states the GiveSendGo fundraiser started by David Butler. “Sanford leaves behind a wife and children who must be grieving. They will face financial hardship and psychological trauma as a result of this week’s horrifying events. On top of that, one of the Sanford sons deals with serious medical challenges that require ongoing care, treatment, and specialized support. In the past, the family attempted to raise funds for him, but with limited success.”
Sanford’s son was diagnosed with congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare condition that <a href="https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/congenital-hyperinsulinism">causes</a> the body to produce too much insulin, resulting in low blood sugar that can lead to major problems for infants and young children.
Sanford’s father told the Post in a text message that it was hard to “find any words to express” how grateful the family was for the donations.
“Our family is grieving so much right now, I can’t find any words to express our appreciation but the right time will eventually come, thank you so much,” Sanford’s father said.

At Least 4 Dead After Shooting And Fire At LDS Church In Grand Blanc, Michigan

Mormons Raise More Than $265K For Family Of Gunman Who Attacked Michigan Church

Mass Shooting

Michigan

Mormonism

Federal, state, and local officials held a press conference on Monday afternoon in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, updating the public on the investigation into Sunday’s shooting that targeted worshipers at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation.
Ruben Coleman, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, said that investigators are “continuing to work to determine a motive” for what the bureau is calling “an act of targeted violence.” Four people were killed in the attack, and another eight people were wounded.
“Our special agents, victim specialists, child advocates, forensic interviewers and local partners have interviewed over 100 victims and witnesses to date, and are continuing to interview individuals as we speak,” Coleman added.
Coleman’s comments come just hours after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-believe-michigan-church-shooter-hated-people-of-the-mormon-faith?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Feds+Believe+Michigan+Church+Shooter+%E2%80%98Hated+People+Of+The+Mormon+Faith%E2%80%99">said</a> that, based on her conversations with FBI Director Kash Patel, the suspected gunman “hated people of the Mormon faith.” Coleman did not address Leavitt’s remarks.
The suspected gunman was identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, who was killed in a shootout with police. The suspect, a Marine and Iraq War veteran, was accused of driving a Chevy Silverado into the church building before stepping out and shooting congregants and setting the structure on fire.
The pickup truck the alleged shooter used in the attack had two American flags displayed in its bed. In a photo uploaded to Facebook in 2019, Sanford was pictured wearing a “Trump 2020” shirt that read, “Make Liberals Cry Again,” NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-we-know-thomas-jacob-sanford-suspect-michigan-church-shooting-rcna234309">reported</a>.
The victims ranged in age from 6 to 78, according to Dr. Michael Danic, chief of staff at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, where the victims were transported. Five people were treated for gunshot wounds, and three others for smoke inhalation. The child who was injured was stabilized and released, according to Danic.
Sanford allegedly set fire to the building using gasoline as an accelerant, and the blaze quickly engulfed the entire building. Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said at Monday’s press conference that authorities have not finished searching the rubble of the burned building, but added that “everyone is accounted for.”
The roads near the church are still blocked off as authorities investigate the attack, and James Deir — the acting special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in Michigan — asked residents to stay out of the area as the investigation continues. The ATF brought in a rapid response team to investigate the fatal shooting and fire. The team has “been used all over the world” and includes forensic chemists and bomb technicians, according to Deir.
Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer also spoke at the press conference, urging people to refrain from speculation, which she called “unhelpful” and “downright dangerous.”
“So I just ask that people lower the temperature of rhetoric,” Whitmer added.
The deadly mass shooting at the Latter-day Saints church in Grand Blanc Township marks the second attack on a place of worship in Michigan in the past three months. In June, an assailant was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tragedy-averted-shooter-targeting-michigan-church-taken-out-by-security-guard">taken out</a> before he could make it inside CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne. One of the church’s deacons hit the attacker with his Ford F-150, giving the security guard time to shoot him. The security guard was shot in the leg, but no one else was injured.

US-SHOOTING-CHURCH

Authorities Provide Update On Michigan Church Shooting As Motive Remains Unclear

Crime

Gretchen Whitmer

Politics

Federal authorities believe that the 40-year-old man accused of opening fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and killing four worshipers in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday &#8220;hated people of the Mormon faith,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends.&#8221;
During an interview on Monday morning, Leavitt said that based on her conversations with FBI Director Kash Patel, &#8220;All they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note.&#8221;
&#8220;All of those questions have yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI,&#8221; Leavitt added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
FOX NEWS ALERT: <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> reveals the suspect in the Michigan church shooting “hated people of the Mormon faith.” <a href="https://t.co/IriLn85r0H">pic.twitter.com/IriLn85r0H</a>
— FOX &amp; Friends (@foxandfriends) <a href="https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/1972645008907051221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Authorities have not said whether any writings or information point to a specific motive in the attack, but Leavitt said that the FBI is executing &#8220;multiple search warrants at the residences and family homes&#8221; of the suspected shooter.
The suspected gunman was identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a U.S. Marine veteran who was deployed to Iraq for nearly seven months in 2007. The 40-year-old man had no criminal history and lived in Burton, Michigan, which borders Grand Blanc Township. The pickup truck the alleged shooter used in the attack had two American flags displayed in its bed. In a photo uploaded to Facebook in 2019, the gunman was pictured wearing a &#8220;Trump 2020&#8221; shirt that read, &#8220;Make Liberals Cry Again,&#8221; NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-we-know-thomas-jacob-sanford-suspect-michigan-church-shooting-rcna234309">reported</a>.
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The attacker was carrying explosive devices when he drove his Chevy Silverado into the church building on Sunday, but authorities said it was unclear if he used them. Officials believe that the gunman used gas to start a fire in the church, a blaze that engulfed the entire building. The 40-year-old veteran allegedly opened fire on congregants with a semiautomatic rifle. Two people were killed from gunshot wounds, and two more people were found dead in the church after first responders arrived. Another eight people were wounded in the attack.
Police responded to the shooting within 30 seconds and pursued the shooter to a parking lot behind the church, where the suspect was shot and killed.
On Sunday night, the FBI asked anyone with information about the attack to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit <a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">tips.fbi.gov</a>.

Feds Believe Michigan Church Shooter ‘Hated People Of The Mormon Faith’

Church

Karoline Leavitt

kash patel

U.S.

Three people were killed and eight were injured when an alleged U.S. veteran who claimed he was suffering from PTSD fired into a dockside North Carolina restaurant, killing three people and leaving at least one other person fighting for their life.
The suspect was named by the Southport Police Department as Nigel Max Edge, arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, with additional charges pending.
“We believe that this was a targeted location,” Southport Police Chief Todd Coring stated at a press conference. “He acted in what we call a ‘lone wolf.’ He acted alone. This is highly premeditated from what we are seeing at this time and we feel that there are no other threats to our community, that we do have someone in custody.&#8221;
He added that an active investigation is underway.
Coring continued that the suspect was identified as a combat veteran injured in the line of duty and said he suffered from PTSD.
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“On Saturday, September 27, 2025 at approximately 9:30 PM, members of the Southport Police Department were dispatched to calls of shots fired with multiple injuries at the American Fish Company, located at 150 Yacht Basin Dr, Southport, NC 28461,” the Southport, North Carolina, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cityofsouthportnc/posts/pfbid0BwvyoikCymScwnc1jgKrx5nqjgqWFd73pBFBvitAH13F9bEijmzKmkDppDmonDfel">Facebook page</a> stated. “Just prior, a boat with a single occupant traveling on the Cape Fear River, paused briefly at the American Fish Company and opened fire, fatally wounding three patrons, and injuring at least eight others. The boat then fled the area, towards the Intracoastal Waterway in the direction of Oak Island. Shortly after 10:00 PM, the U.S. Coast Guard observed a single individual matching the description of the shooter, loading their boat at the public boat ramp at NE 55th Street in Oak Island. The Coast Guard crew detained this suspect.”
The suspect reportedly was formerly known as Sean William DeBevoise, who authored a book titled, “Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation.” In the author’s comments about the book, he stated, “The attacks on 9/11 would decide my future for me. I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed 3 times; first to Haiti&#8217;s political turmoil, then to Iraq twice. Returning from the warzone severely wounded, my life would never be the same as it once was.”

MixCollage-28-Sep-2025-12-03-PM-8684

Suspect Charged In North Carolina Dockside Shooting That Killed 3, Injured 8

North Carolina

Shooting

Veterans

At least four victims have died, and multiple people are injured after a shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, according to police.
The shooter &#8220;drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church&#8221; before opening fire, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/church-shooting-fire-michigan-09-28-25">according</a> to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye. The suspect was later killed in a firefight with police, bringing the <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1972453438677193099">total</a> dead to at least five.
The current status of the injured victims is unknown. The church fire was likely started by the shooter, according to Police Chief Renye.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Horrifying footage shows Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan on fire after a gunman opened fire, shot multiple victims, and set the building on fire
Pray. <a href="https://t.co/IyU4cp1a9v">pic.twitter.com/IyU4cp1a9v</a> <a href="https://t.co/WxvcvoUv68">https://t.co/WxvcvoUv68</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1972334175979229378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump released a statement on the shooting and fire, saying that he has &#8220;been briefed,&#8221; and to &#8220;pray for the victims and their families.&#8221;
Police have identified the shooter as a 40-year-old man from Burton, Michigan. The shooter was a U.S. Marines veteran who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/us-news/iraq-war-veteran-thomas-sanford-idd-as-gunman-who-attacked-grand-blanc-lds-church-killing-2-and-setting-it-ablaze/">New York Post</a>.
In the attack, the shooter ran his truck, a Chevrolet Silverado, into the church before opening fire on congregants with a semiautomatic rifle. He also set fire to the church. The blaze soon enveloped most of the building.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a <a href="https://x.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1972332977641451994">post</a> on X that FBI agents are responding to the shooting “to provide any requested support necessary.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1972332612929634470">posted</a> that she is receiving briefings “about what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan.” She also noted that federal agents with the FBI and ATF are responding.
“Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy,” said Bondi.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer <a href="https://x.com/govwhitmer/status/1972333355380384170?s=46&amp;t=N2CGTmIA8Rg3XdjDvmfCjw">responded</a> to news of the shooting on X: “My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc close.”
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

Michigan LDS Church

At Least 4 Dead, Multiple Injured, And Church Burned After Mass Shooting In Michigan

Dan Bongino

Pam Bondi

Following the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gavin-newsom-mocks-prayer-after-catholic-school-shooting?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Gavin+Newsom+Mocks+Prayer+After+Catholic+School+Shooting">deadly shooting</a> at Annunciation Catholic Church by a transgender-identifying 23-year-old, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed rabid gun control calls and focused on the &#8220;health crisis&#8221; behind mass shootings.
&#8220;I certainly consider mass shootings a health crisis,&#8221; Kennedy <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1961159049866846589">said</a> on Thursday. &#8220;And we are doing, for the first time, real studies on what the ideology of that is, and we&#8217;re looking, for the first time, at psychiatric drugs.&#8221;
&#8220;People have had guns in this country forever,&#8221; the secretary continued. &#8220;When I was a kid, we had shooting clubs at our school. Kids, my classmates, and other people would bring a .22 rifle with their guns to school and park in the parking lot. Nobody was shooting up schools.&#8221;
&#8220;There&#8217;s never been a time in the history of humanity where people walked into a crowd, or a church, or a movie theater, or a school, or a crowd of strangers and just started randomly shooting,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s happening in our country, it&#8217;s not happening around the world. And there are many other countries that have comparable levels [of] guns that we have in this country &#8212; we had comparable levels in the &#8217;40s, &#8217;50s, and &#8217;60s and people weren&#8217;t doing that. Something changed, and it dramatically changed human behavior.&#8221;
&#8220;One of the culprits we need to examine is the fact that we&#8217;re the most overmedicated nation in the world, and a lot of those are psychiatric drugs that have blackbox warnings on them that warn of suicidal and homicidal ideation,&#8221; Kennedy added. &#8220;We are doing those studies right now for the first time, and we will have an answer.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨 JUST IN: RFK Jr. launched a FULL INVESTIGATION into the meds the trans Minneapolis shooter was using
“There’s never been a time in America… where people walk into a crowd or a church or a movie theater or a school and just start randomly shooting.”
“SOMETHING changed, and… <a href="https://t.co/GSSPMfhTpr">pic.twitter.com/GSSPMfhTpr</a>
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1961159049866846589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
Kennedy has previously noted that HHS will look into the effects of psychiatric drugs and how they are being prescribed. Back in February, the secretary listed SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) and other psychiatric drugs as a potential contributor to our national health crisis.
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“Whatever belief or suspicion I have expressed in the past, I’m willing to subject them all to the scrutiny of unbiased science,&#8221; RFK said at the time. “That is gonna be our template: unbiased science.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. pledges “NOTHING is gonna be off limits” in chronic disease investigation
“The childhood vaccine schedule, electromagnetic radiation, glyphosate, other pesticides, ultra processed foods, artificial food additives, SSRI and other psychiatric drugs, PFAs,… <a href="https://t.co/kWV2LHuqTG">pic.twitter.com/kWV2LHuqTG</a>
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) <a href="https://twitter.com/Holden_Culotta/status/1891888695185375248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
The use of SSRI drugs among teenagers and adults in the U.S. has increased by almost 400% from the early 1990s to 2006, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-enter-panic-mode-as-rfk-sets-out-to-make-america-healthy-again">The Daily Wire</a> previously noted. By 2014, one in ten adults had an SSRI prescription, before there was another 35% increase from 2015 to 2021, totaling tens of millions of prescriptions.
Still, the number of Americans suffering from depression has continued to spike. “The percentage of U.S. adults who report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime reached 29.0%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015,&#8221; a 2023 Gallup poll found.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-research-finds-antidepressants-may-cause-emotional-blunting">New Research Finds Antidepressants May Cause ‘Emotional Blunting’</a>

RFK Jr.

RFK Jr Dismisses Gun Control Calls, Will Examine Psych Drugs In Mass Shooting ‘Health Crisis’

Health

Prescription Drugs

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

School Shooting

Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that politicians and political commentators who have condemned prayer in the wake of a mass shooting in Minnesota should “get new politics.”
In an appearance on Fox News, Vance ripped into those who have mocked or dismissed calls for prayer to help deal with tragedy. The vice president said that people who have targeted prayer after a gunman killed two children at Annunciation Catholic School’s church on Wednesday morning have “something very wrong” with their souls.
“If you are a politician or you&#8217;re a media commentator and two beautiful babies just got murdered while praying, and your politics force you to condemn prayer in response to it, you ought to get new politics because something very wrong has gone on inside your soul,” said Vance, who is a Catholic.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;If you are a politician or you&#8217;re a media commentator and two beautiful babies just got murdered while praying, and your politics force you to condemn prayer in response to it, you ought to get new politics because something very wrong has gone on inside your soul.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ukwAIWdBbs">pic.twitter.com/ukwAIWdBbs</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1961161979868962889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
A number of left-wing politicians and commentators have downplayed prayer in the wake of the shooting. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who served in the Biden administration, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karoline-leavitt-destroys-jen-psaki-for-mocking-the-power-of-prayer">said</a> in a post on X: “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does (sic) not end school shootings. prayers (sic) do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”
Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/minneapolis-mayor-trashes-people-for-offering-thoughts-and-prayers-after-shooting">dismissed</a> “thoughts and prayers” during a news conference after the shooting.
“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now, these kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school, they were in a church,” Frey said. “These are kids that should be learning with their friends. They should be playing on the playground. They should be able to go to school or church in peace without the fear or risk of violence.”
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom echoed Frey’s sentiment in a post on X that targeted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who defended prayer in reaction to Psaki’s comment.
“These children were literally praying as they got shot at,” Newsom wrote.
Annunciation Catholic Church <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/church-targeted-by-trans-identifying-shooter-asks-for-prayer-during-impossible-situation">invited</a> prayer in an open letter to the general public on Wednesday evening, asking for support as the community grapples with the deadly attack.
“Please lift up these families and these children in prayer and surround them and each other with your love during this difficult time,” the school’s principal, Matthew DeBoer, and the church’s pastor, Father Dennis Zehren, wrote.

JD Vance

Vance Tells Prayer-Bashing Leftists To ‘Get New Politics’

Vance Tells Prayer-Bashing Politicos To ‘Get New Politics’

Annunciation Catholic School

Gavin Newsom

Jen Psaki

Minnesota

Prayer

The two children killed by a trans-identifying shooter who opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday were identified by their families as 8-year-old Fletcher Alexander Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Lillian Moyski.
The parents of both Merkel and Moyski shared statements on Thursday, addressing the shooting and reflecting on the lives of their children who were mercilessly taken from them, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/names-of-children-killed-in-annunciation-shooting-released/">reported</a>.
&#8220;Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son, Fletcher, away from us. Because of their actions, we will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming,&#8221; the Merkel family said in a statement. &#8220;Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play. While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find healing. I pray that the other victim&#8217;s family can find some semblance of the same.&#8221;
The statement was read by Merkel&#8217;s father, Jesse, at a press conference on Thursday.
In a statement on Moyski, her family remembered her &#8220;laughter, kindness, and spirit&#8221; that they said &#8220;touched everyone who knew her.&#8221;
&#8220;We are devastated to share that our beloved daughter, Harper Moyski, was tragically killed in the recent school shooting. Harper was a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;Our hearts are broken not only as parents, but also for Harper&#8217;s sister, who adored her big sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss. As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.&#8221;
Both families asked for privacy as they continue to grieve their tragic losses. The Merkel family added that they hope to set up a scholarship in Fletcher&#8217;s name.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The parents of the two children killed in the Annunciation Catholic School shooting spoke out on Thursday, with one father urging others to &#8220;give your kids an extra hug&#8221; as he remembered his son, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel. <a href="https://t.co/DXbYjfmnYk">https://t.co/DXbYjfmnYk</a> <a href="https://t.co/1MBxAnplMc">pic.twitter.com/1MBxAnplMc</a>
— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1961206662091755792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is Harper Moyski.
Just 10-years-old, she was one of the kids killed at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
Her parents: “Harper was a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.” <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FOX9</a> <a href="https://t.co/F2n1qAQWe8">pic.twitter.com/F2n1qAQWe8</a>
— Chenue Her (@ChenueHer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChenueHer/status/1961197043504066696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The gunman, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, wounded 18 other people — including 15 children — when he attacked the Catholic school. Authorities initially said 17 people were injured, but on Thursday, they said that one more child had been taken to the hospital in a private vehicle after the shooting. All of the wounded children are expected to survive, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O&#8217;Hara.

Minneapolis, Minnesota mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church, School

‘Bright, Joyful, And Deeply Loved’: Parents Mourn Children Killed In Catholic School Attack

Minneapolis

FBI Director Kash Patel gave an update on Thursday on the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, confirming that the trans-identifying gunman held both anti-Catholic and antisemitic views.
Patel said the information gathered by the FBI demonstrates that the shooting, where two children were killed and 17 other people were wounded, &#8220;was an act of domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology.&#8221; Patel then provided multiple updates on the investigation.
&#8220;Subject left multiple anti-Catholic, anti-religious references both in his manifesto and written on his firearms. Subject expressed hatred and violence toward Jewish people, writing &#8216;Israel must fall,&#8217; &#8216;Free Palestine,&#8217; and using explicit language related to the Holocaust. He wrote an explicit call for violence against President Trump on a firearm magazine,&#8221; Patel <a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1961124620595052673">wrote</a> on X.
&#8220;We will employ all of our counter-terror tools to ensure this is fully investigated and deterred,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As we continue to investigate yesterday’s barbaric attack from Robert Westman, the male subject, our teams have gathered information and evidence demonstrating this was an act of domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology.
Some updates:
-Subject left multiple…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1961124620595052673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, wrote disturbing passages in journals and recorded dark videos before opening fire on students and school staff. In one YouTube video that was posted just hours before the shooting and connected to the gunman, phrases such as &#8220;Where is your God?&#8221; and “6 million wasn’t enough&#8221; — an apparent reference to the Holocaust — were written on firearms. Patel did not reveal any information on what was written in the shooter&#8217;s manifesto that the FBI believes shows anti-Catholic and antisemitic hostility.
In some of Westman&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/entitled-penny-sniffing-ks-minnesota-gunman-railed-against-jews-in-journal?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Entitled%2C+Penny-Sniffing+K***s%E2%80%99%3A+Minnesota+Gunman+Railed+Against+Jews+In+Journal">past writings</a>, he raged against Jews, calling them &#8220;entitled, penny-sniffing k***s,&#8221; an antisemitic slur, The New York Post reported. He also wrote, “If I will carry out a racially motivated attack, it would be most likely against filthy Zionist jews [sic].”
Patel announced on Wednesday that the FBI was investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism and a &#8220;hate crime targeting Catholics.&#8221;
Westman, who began identifying as transgender as a teenager, also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wish-i-never-brain-washed-myself-minnesota-school-shooter-said-he-was-tired-of-being-trans?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=%E2%80%98Wish+I+Never+Brain-Washed+Myself%E2%80%99%3A+Minnesota+School+Shooter+Said+He+Was+%E2%80%98Tired+Of+Being+Trans%E2%80%99">wrote</a> in a journal that he was &#8220;tired of being trans,&#8221; adding, &#8220;I wish I never brain-washed myself,&#8221; according to the Post.
The shooting at Annunciation marks the second in two years where a trans-identifying gunman targeted a Christian school. In March 2023, a woman who identified as a man opened fire at The Covenant School in Nashville, killing three children and three adults before she was taken out by responding police officers.

Shooting At Annunciation School Church In Minneapolis Leaves Multiple Children Dead And Many Injured

Kash Patel Says Minneapolis School Shooting ‘Was An Act Of Domestic Terrorism’

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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Thursday that the FBI was assisting local law enforcement in reviewing the writings of the transgender-identifying male shooter who opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School during a school Mass held at the church building on Wednesday. 
O’Hara gave the update during an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg5XSySV-a0">interview</a> on NBC’s “Today” show, where he discussed the latest development in the investigation into the attack that left two children dead and 17 others injured. The gunman has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-we-know-about-the-trans-identifying-gunman-who-slaughtered-catholic-school-children?author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=10&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=What+We+Know+About+The+Trans-Identifying+Gunman+Who+Slaughtered+Catholic+School+Children">been identified</a> as “Robin Westman,” a 23-year-old man who identified as a woman and previously went by Robert.
Police say that Westman killed himself after he shot through the windows of the Annunciation Church, where students were attending a morning Mass. O’Hara said that police were still investigating Westman and examining what he had left behind. 
“We recovered literally hundreds of pieces of evidence in total that we have to go through. There is some additional writings, I would say, that the FBI is helping us go through,” O’Hara said. 
“Everything that we have seen so far is really a classic pathway to an active shooter,” he added. “We have seen a whole lot of hate against a whole variety of people and what we have seen so far, but nothing specific to point to as the motive for targeting this church and this particular incident.”
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Wednesday that the FBI was investigating the shooting as domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics.
In previously reported writings, Westman discussed assassinating President Donald Trump, fantasized about killing children, expressed hatred toward Jewish people, and ranted about his transgender identity.
“The focus remains trying to go through everything that we possibly can, following all of the evidence to its logical conclusion to try and determine what potential motive there actually is for this shooting,” O’Hara said, saying police would try to provide answers as quickly as possible. 
He said that police would likely apply for additional electronic warrants to search through the shooter’s devices.
O’Hara also said that they believed the gunman used to be a member of the church and attend the school there. It was previously reported that Westman’s mother worked at the school. 
All of those injured during the attack are expected to survive, though some are still in critical condition, O’Hara said. He also praised the church for having security guidelines that he said helped save lives. 
“Also thankfully, due to the procedures that the school had in place, that the church had in place, after the Mass had begun, the doors to the church were locked. So this coward had to fire from outside of the church, through the church windows and into the church. And we believe him not being able to get into the church likely saved countless lives,” O’Hara also said. 
During the Biden administration, the FBI also aided in the investigation into the March 2023 attack on The Covenant School in Nashville by a transgender-identifying female. During that investigation, the FBI suppressed writings that the attacker left behind, arguing that they would lead to conspiracy theories.

‘A Whole Lot Of Hate’: FBI Examining Writings Of Trans-Identifying Gunman In Catholic School Attack

Catholic Church

Police

The trans-identifying shooter who killed two children and wounded more than a dozen others at a Catholic school in Minneapolis on Wednesday wrote in a journal entry that he was “tired of being trans” and regretted that he “brain-washed” himself.
A journal reportedly belonging to Robin Westman, 23, who was born Robert Westman, revealed some of the dark thoughts of the gunman who opened fire on students and staff while they were attending morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic School. The journal, which was written in a mix of Russian Cyrillic script and English, indicated that Westman held regrets about identifying as transgender, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/08/28/us-news/minneapolis-school-shooter-robin-westman-confessed-he-was-tired-of-being-trans/">reported</a>.
“I only keep [long hair] because it is pretty much my last shred of being trans. I am tired of being trans, I wish I never brain-washed myself,” Westman reportedly wrote.
“I can’t cut my hair now as it would be [an] embarrassing defeat, and it might be a concerning change of character that could get me reported,” he added. “It just always gets in my way. I will probably chop it on the day of the attack.”
In another section of his journal, Westman reportedly wrote, “I don’t want to dress girly all the time but I guess sometimes I really like it. I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man.”
In 2020, Westman officially changed his name to Robin because he “identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.” At the time, Westman was still a minor, so his mother had to sign the application to change his name, according to a government document <a href="https://x.com/peterjhasson/status/1960758053625627109">shared</a> by Washington Free Beacon Editor Peter J. Hasson. It’s unclear if Westman took any hormone treatments or underwent any surgeries to align with his trans identity.
Westman’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, worked as a secretary at Annunciation for five years before retiring in 2021, according to the Post. Westman graduated from Annunciation, which serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade, in 2017.
In videos posted hours before the shooting by an account tied to Westman, political and religious messages are seen written on weapons. The messages included “Kill Donald Trump” and “Where’s your God?”
Westman is the second trans-identifying shooter to target a Christian school in the past two years. In March of 2023, a female who identified as a man opened fire at The Covenant School in Nashville, killing three children and three adults.

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‘Wish I Never Brain-Washed Myself’: Minnesota School Shooter Said He Was ‘Tired Of Being Trans’

FBI Director Kash Patel said on Wednesday afternoon that the bureau is investigating the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis &#8220;as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.&#8221;
Two children — ages 8 and 10 — were killed and 17 other people, including 14 children, were wounded when trans-identifying shooter Robin Westman fired into the building where students and staff were attending Mass on Wednesday morning. The wounded <a href="https://x.com/BrianEntin/status/1960793755067539714">include</a> 14 children between the ages of 6 and 15 and three adults in their 80s.
&#8220;The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, a male born as Robert Westman,&#8221; Patel posted on X. &#8220;The FBI will continue to provide updates on our ongoing investigation with the public as we are able.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Updates on the shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota:
The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.
There were 2 fatalities, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. In addition, 14 children and 3 adults were injured.
The… <a href="https://t.co/ErFZpSieKS">https://t.co/ErFZpSieKS</a>
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1960785108996112782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The FBI <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism">defines</a> domestic terrorism as &#8220;violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.&#8221; The bureau <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/civil-rights/hate-crimes">defines</a> a hate crime as &#8220;a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.&#8221;
The Minneapolis shooter showed political and religious messages in videos posted Wednesday morning under an account connected to him. Some of the messages, which were written on firearms, said, &#8220;Where is your God?&#8221; &#8220;For the children,&#8221; &#8220;Kill Donald Trump,&#8221; and &#8220;Why so Queerious?&#8221; In one video, the shooter also showed a notebook that had writings filling multiple pages. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O&#8217;Hara <a href="https://x.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1960793806468415855">confirmed</a> that the YouTube video showed Westman&#8217;s manifesto.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem <a href="https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1960790030630224038">said</a> in a post on X, &#8220;This deeply sick murderer scrawled the words ‘For the Children’ and ‘Where is your God?’ and ‘Kill Donald Trump’ on a rifle magazine.&#8221;
&#8220;This level of violence is unthinkable,&#8221; she added. &#8220;Our deepest prayers are with the children, parents, families, educators, and Christians everywhere. We mourn with them, we pray for healing, and we will never forget them.&#8221;
Westman&#8217;s mother worked at Annunciation, according to Twin Cities local news station KARE 11. His mother also reportedly signed off on his name change in 2020, since Westman was still a minor when he began to identify as a female.
Two years ago, Minnesota Catholic leaders asked Democratic Governor Tim Walz for more help to protect their schools from shootings, but to no avail, as extra funding for security was never authorized, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/minnesota-catholic-school-leader-warned-tim-walz-of-urgent-and-critical-need-to-secure-schools?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Minnesota+Catholic+School+Leader+Warned+Tim+Walz+Of+%E2%80%98Critical%E2%80%99+School+Safety+Threats.+He+Did+Nothing.">reported</a>.

FBI Investigating Minneapolis Shooting As Domestic Terrorism, Hate Crime Against Catholics

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