Fifth grade survivor of Minneapolis Catholic school massacre says friend who was shot shielded him from gunfire

A fifth grader at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis said his friend shielded him from gunfire and was struck in the back during Wednesday’s mass shooting as they hid under the pews.

Ten-year-old Weston Halsne told CNN he was sitting near the windows inside the church when shots rang out. He said at first he was unsure of what the noise was, but quickly dove under the pews and covered his head.

“My friend, Victor, like saved me though. ‘Cause he laid on top of me. But he got hit,” Halsne said. “My friend got hit in the back.” He added that Victor was taken to the hospital.

The shooting took place at around 8:15 am. Police confirmed that two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed, and 17 other people were injured, including 14 children. The gunman took his own life inside the church.

Authorities identified the shooter as 23-year-old trans-identified male Robin Westman. Investigators say Westman opened fire with a rifle through the school’s church windows. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the shooting as a “deliberate act of violence against innocent children." FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI "is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics."

Westman, a biological male who identified as female, had reportedly posted a video on YouTube prior to the attack referencing other mass shooters. Footage showed Westman displaying firearms and ammunition magazines, with messages written on the weapons that included taunts as well as tributes to past shooters.