The mass shooting that occurred Wednesday at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis that left two children dead and 17 other children and adults injured is being investigated as an act of terrorism and an anti-Catholic hate crime, said FBI Director Kash Patel.

“The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics. Two people were killed: an 8-year-old boy and a 10-year-old boy. In addition, 14 children and three adults were injured,” Patel told X, adding that the shooter has been identified as “Robin Westman, a male born Robert Westman.”

“Two young children, ages 8 and 10, were killed at their desks. Their parents have been notified. Another 17 people were injured, 14 of them children. Two of those children are in critical condition,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at a news conference.

The shooting occurred this morning at around 8:30 a.m. local time at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, prompting a strong police response and high tension until it was confirmed that the shooter was dead.

As he explained O'Hara said during the mass to mark the beginning of the school year, “a gunman approached from the outside, on the side of the building, and began firing a rifle through the windows of the church at the children sitting in the pews.”

“The assailant,” O'Hara said, “was armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a handgun”: “We believe he used all three,” he added.

Asked about the number of shots fired, he said it was “dozens,” although he did not yet have an exact count.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said police still do not have a motive for the shooting.

Authorities also confirmed the death of the shooter, who they believe “took his own life in the parking lot” of the school.

“This deliberate act of violence is just a glimpse of the cruelty that is beyond understanding. Our hearts are broken for everyone affected by this tragedy; as we begin the difficult path toward healing, I want the community to know this: that even in the face of such evil, we stand with our community,” the police chief concluded.

The Trump administration announced that the U.S. flag has been ordered to be flown at half-staff on all public buildings and military grounds to honor the victims of the shooting until sunset on August 31.

According to White House sources, President Donald Trump has called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Both wrote on social media shortly after the news broke that they were monitoring the situation and sent their condolences to the affected families.