‘I Prayed’—8th Grader Trusted in God While Helping Classmates During Shooting at Catholic School

minneapolis shooting
Javen Willis and his mother, Melissa Willis. Screengrab from YouTube / @TODAY

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When news reports indicated the shooting suspect was transgender, some conservative leaders emphasized that angle. “Today’s evil church school shooter was a trans who was likely groomed and transitioned as a teenager,” posted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). “If [trans people] are willing to destroy themselves and how God made them, then they are willing to destroy others and we saw that happen today.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, said using the tragedy to demonize transgender people indicates a loss of “common humanity.”

Josefina Sanchez, who attended Annunciation Catholic School with the suspect, recalled something being “off” about Westman. She also pointed to “demonic” influences, saying, “I think we need Jesus. [Westman] needed Jesus.”

Locked Church Doors Saved ‘Countless Lives’

Authorities said shooting suspect Robin Westman visited Annunciation Catholic Church a few weeks ago, indicating a desire to reconnect with the faith. Afterward, Westman drew detailed diagrams of the church’s interior.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters that Westman likely intended to carry out the attack from inside the building, which likely would have led to more deaths.

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“A number of the [church] doors had been locked once Mass began, which is part of their normal procedure,” O’Hara said. “This coward [shooter] had to fire from outside of the church through the church windows…and we believe him not being able to get into the church likely saved countless lives.”

In a video that Westman might have intended to publish during or after the attack, the suspect displayed smoke canisters attached to wooden boards. “This will be for the emergency exit,” Westman said, apparently hoping to trap students in the church.

“Everything that we’ve seen so far is really a classic pathway to an active shooter,” O’Hara said about the investigation. “We’ve seen a whole lot of hate against a whole variety of people…but nothing specific to point to, as the motive for targeting this church.”

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Stephanie Martin
Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! and pro football.

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