Minneapolis police have apprehended a woman following a shocking incident where a gun was discharged inside a Catholic school, triggering a full-scale lockdown and a major emergency response.
The event unfolded on Thursday at the Church of the Annunciation, a place of worship that also houses a school. According to authorities, the individual entered the building and fired at least one round from a handgun.
Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell confirmed that the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Robin Westman, was located and taken into custody without further incident. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported from the shooting.
The motive behind the alarming act remains unclear and is a key focus of the ongoing investigation. Police have not yet established a connection between the woman and the school, leaving the community searching for answers.
The sound of gunfire prompted an immediate and severe response. The school was placed on a precautionary lockdown, a procedure designed to keep students and staff safe by securing them inside classrooms. Heavily armed police units swiftly descended on the scene to secure the building and ensure the threat was neutralised.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis confirmed the terrifying ordeal, noting that the school's protocols were successfully activated. "We are grateful that no one was physically injured today," the statement read, also promising support for those affected by the traumatic event.
This incident has sent ripples of anxiety through the local community, raising familiar concerns about safety and security in educational institutions. It marks another distressing episode of gun violence occurring within a school's walls, a national issue that continues to provoke debate and fear.
