Gov. Walz: Shooter Contained After Minneapolis Catholic School Incident/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Authorities responded Wednesday to a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during the first week of classes. Governor Tim Walz called the violence “horrific,” while officials confirmed the shooter had been contained and there was no active threat. The incident follows a string of fatal shootings in the city within 24 hours.
Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting Quick Looks
- Gov. Tim Walz confirmed a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.
- The shooter has been “contained”; no active threat remains.
- Students were evacuated as police, FBI, ATF, and state agencies responded.
- Incident comes days after the school year began on Monday.
- The shooting follows multiple fatal shootings in Minneapolis this week.
- Mayor Jacob Frey said the city’s emergency response team has been activated.
Gov. Walz: Shooter Contained After Minneapolis Catholic School Incident
Deep Look
Authorities rushed to the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning after reports of gunfire disrupted the first week of classes, prompting an overwhelming law enforcement response and concern from state leaders.
Governor Tim Walz confirmed the incident on social media, describing it as a “horrific act of violence” that marred the beginning of the school year.
“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” he posted on X, noting he had been briefed by law enforcement.
Shooter Contained, No Active Threat
The Minneapolis city government quickly clarified that the shooter had been “contained” and there was no ongoing threat to the community. Local police, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the State Patrol, federal ATF agents, and FBI personnel all converged on the school grounds.
Students were safely evacuated, according to a person answering the phone at Annunciation School. The pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade Catholic institution, founded in 1923, had scheduled an all-school Mass Wednesday morning at 8:15 a.m., just days after opening for the new school year.
City and Federal Response
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was monitoring “reports of horrific violence” in South Minneapolis and confirmed that the city’s emergency response team had been activated. He urged the public to allow police and emergency responders the space needed to secure the area.
The ATF’s St. Paul office confirmed it had agents on the ground responding to reports of an active shooter, while the FBI also mobilized. A spokesperson for Hennepin Healthcare, a Level 1 trauma center, said staff were dealing with an “emergency situation.”
Context of Recent Violence
Wednesday’s shooting unfolded against a backdrop of mounting gun violence in Minneapolis. Just one day earlier, a shooting outside a high school left one person dead and six injured. Hours later, two additional fatal shootings claimed lives elsewhere in the city.
The succession of incidents has heightened anxiety among residents and intensified political debate over public safety in the city. While details of Wednesday’s school shooting — including possible injuries and the shooter’s identity — remain unclear, the quick announcement that the suspect was contained brought some reassurance.
School Community in Shock
Photos from earlier this week showed Annunciation students smiling in green uniforms on their first day back to school, greeting friends at bicycle racks and sharing classroom moments. By Wednesday morning, that excitement had given way to chaos and fear as students were evacuated by police in response to the gunfire.
The incident is likely to reignite national attention on school safety, gun violence, and the challenge of keeping classrooms secure just as the academic year begins.
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