Police increase injury count from 18 to 21 in Minneapolis mass school shooting

Three more children have been confirmed injured in the Minneapolis Catholic church mass shooting last week, bringing the total number of wounded to 21, according to police.

The revised number for the Aug. 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church was announced Monday by the Minneapolis Police Department.

Preliminary reports stated 15 children, ages 6 and 15, and three adults in their eighties were injured in the shooting as they attended mass.

Fletcher Merkel, 8, and 10-year-old Harper Moyski were fatally shot by the gunman, Robin Westman.

Three children and one adult remain hospitalized at the Hennepin County Medical Center.

Minneapolis public schools begin classes on Tuesday with substantially increased visible patrol presence, but Annunciation Catholic School will remain closed.

The 23-year-old shooter, who died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was born male but self-identified as female, and in an online manifesto said that he was "tired of being trans." Westman had previously graduated from the pre-K through eighth grade Annunciation Catholic School, and his mother used to work at the church until she retired in 2021.