911 calls seize terror and chaos as gunman opened hearth on Annunciation Church

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Newly launched 911 transcripts reveal the concern and chaos that gripped college students, employees and clergy inside a Minneapolis church when a gunman clad in tactical gear opened hearth on them in August.

The transcripts, obtained by Fox Information Digital, embrace lecturers whispering to calm college students and employees urging kids to remain hidden at Annunciation Catholic Church, whereas passersby exterior describe the gunfire. The heroism of educators and employees who stored college students quiet beneath pews and sheltered in a downstairs classroom is vividly revealed.

"Pricey God, expensive God in heaven, there’s some weapons in Annunciation Church, on 54th," Karen McCann, a parishioner hiding within the sanctuary, informed a dispatcher.

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Mother and father await information of their kids after a reported mass taking pictures at Annunciation Church, Aug. 27, in Minneapolis. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune by way of AP)

"We’re all crouched down beneath the — it simply occurred. We’re crouched beneath the pews … it’s an entire bunch of individuals right here," McCann stated. "He is likely to be coming within the church once more."

The dispatcher tried to reassure her, saying, "We have now so many responders on the best way to you."

The Aug. 27 mass shooting left two kids lifeless and 18 others injured. The alleged gunman, Robin Westman, killed himself along with his personal weapon, police stated.

Within the Minneapolis police offense report additionally obtained by Fox Information Digital, investigators marked the assault with "no bias" motivation — that means it was not labeled as a hate crime beneath state reporting requirements.

The primary 911 calls got here from individuals exterior the church who both noticed the gunman or heard bullets ring out as early as 8:27 a.m., as college students had been on the point of pray.

"There’s gunshots — there’s like gunshots throughout," an unidentified caller stated. "Uhm, should have been 20, all collectively in a bunch of various bursts," the caller stated.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/672/378/school-shooting-minneapolis-vigil-memorial-fox-news-004.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/1344/756/school-shooting-minneapolis-vigil-memorial-fox-news-004.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/931/523/school-shooting-minneapolis-vigil-memorial-fox-news-004.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/1862/1046/school-shooting-minneapolis-vigil-memorial-fox-news-004.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Susan Saly, proper, and Meagan Pierlouissi place flowers at a memorial at Annunciation Catholic Church after Wednesday's college taking pictures, Aug. 28, in Minneapolis. (Abbie Parr/AP Photograph)

Jillian Mai, a mum or dad driving by, described a person "in head-to-toe camo gear" with "black goggles … standing in place subsequent to the church," whereas neighbor Caitlin Nolan saying she noticed the shooter throughout the road.

"He was taking pictures on the church … He gave the impression to be carrying all black and had a black, gigantic [gun]," Nolan stated. "[It] needed to be computerized."

Inside, the horror was unfolding.

"We want, we want medical help ASAP. We obtained a number of individuals have been shot," an unidentified lady caller, possible a employees member, informed a dispatcher.

Father Dennis Zehren confirmed that kids had been contained in the church and that the gunman was energetic on the south finish of the constructing.

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Legislation enforcement officers collect exterior Annunciation Church following the mass taking pictures in Minneapolis, Aug. 27. (Tim Evans/Reuters)

Becca Hare, a fourth-grade instructor, confirmed individuals had been injured.

"I don’t understand how many individuals are right here, however there are individuals harm," Hare stated. "Keep down, keep down, okay … I’m going to go assist, I’m going to go assist."

The calls reveal dispatchers telling the terrified callers to remain hidden as lecturers labored to maintain college students quiet beneath the pews.

Trainer Diane reported that she and her aides had been downstairs, the place they managed to barricade doorways and took in fleeing kids — actions that additionally possible stored the youngsters protected from stray hearth.

"We had been downstairs having crackers and hastily we heard gunshots … there’s an entire bunch of youngsters began coming in ’trigger they’re operating from in every single place," she stated.

"We’re within the church basement, locked within the classroom proper now."

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/672/378/annunciation-catholic-school-minneapolis-shooting-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/1344/756/annunciation-catholic-school-minneapolis-shooting-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/931/523/annunciation-catholic-school-minneapolis-shooting-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/1862/1046/annunciation-catholic-school-minneapolis-shooting-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Neighborhood members embrace after a taking pictures on the Annunciation Catholic College on Wednesday, Aug. 27, in Minneapolis. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune by way of AP)

In the meantime, on the finish of Hare’s name, she informed college students that the police had arrived after which she started giving instructions to others to maneuver out.

"Individuals simply requested if somebody was harm they usually stated sure," Hare stated. "For those who’re injured and you may stroll, might you stroll?" she stated as she tried to evacuate the youngsters.

"Injured are going, we're evacuating," she stated. "We're going to the college, we're going to the college. It’s okay, I promise."

Outdoors, two of Westman’s stray bullets additionally hit the automotive of motorist Timothy Barnes, who stated he was driving by as gunfire erupted.

"I noticed a man begin taking pictures and my automotive obtained hit by bullets," Barnes stated.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sits on the steps of the Annunciation Church's college after police reply to a reported mass taking pictures, Aug. 27. (Abbie Parr/AP Photograph)

Barnes described the shooter as being in all-black tactical gear with an assault rifle, standing "between the college and the church in a inexperienced house."

In different paperwork obtained by Fox Information Digital, police affirm {that a} loss of life by suicide occurred as a part of the identical case.

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Westman just isn't named within the paperwork, which had been redacted in accordance with Minnesota state legislation. Minneapolis police, nevertheless, recognized him by identify throughout a press briefing following the taking pictures.

Two kids, Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, had been killed, and 18 individuals — 15 of them kids — had been injured. Sophia Forchas, who was shot in the head is making a gradual restoration.