Minneapolis shooting: Tim Walz orders law enforcement personnel deployment around schools

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz hugs Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey outside the Annunciation Catholic School following a shooting Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Law enforcement to be deployed around schools

Walz said the deployment is at the request of the City of Minneapolis, with 14 Minnesota State Patrol troopers and six DNR officers sent to the city.

They will be assigned across the city’s five precincts “with a particular focus on schools and places of worship.”

“The troopers and enforcement officers will coordinate with the Minneapolis Police Department to assist with patrol coverage and visibility,” the announcement said.

The national news will move on, but Minnesota will not. pic.twitter.com/Z5JsmmCCz6

— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) August 28, 2025

The City of Minneapolis said it has increased patrols in and around Annunciation since Wednesday’s shooting, and is also working with local policing partners to expand patrols “around all schools within the city over the next couple of weeks.”

Police still looking for motive in school shooting

Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Police are still looking for what motivated 23-year-old Robin Westman, the shooter who opened fire at the Annunciation Church and Catholic School.

Flowers are placed near the Annunciation Catholic School after Wednesday’s school shooting, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Authorities were poring over videos, writings, and the movements of the shooter but remained uncertain on what made the shooter open fire through stained-glass windows as children celebrated Mass on the first week of classes at the Annunciation Catholic School.

“Everything we’ve seen so far is a classic pathway to an active shooter,” Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said on NBC’s “TODAY” show Thursday, adding police have seen nothing “specific to trigger the amount of hate that occurred yesterday.”

Investigators recovered hundreds of pieces of evidence from the church and three residences, and are seeking warrants to search devices, the chief said.

They found more writings from the suspect, but no additional firearms. Westman, who was armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, died by suicide, he said.

Members of a Lutheran church charities comfort dog ministry sit and stand in front of the Annunciation Catholic Church after Wednesday’s school shooting, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Shooter’s video

Westman, whose mother worked for the parish before retiring in 2021, left behind videos and page upon page of writings describing a litany of grievances.

One read: “I know this is wrong, but I can’t seem to stop myself.” On a YouTube channel, videos that police say may have been posted by the shooter show weapons and ammunition, and list the names of mass shooters. What appears to be a suicide note to family contains a confession of long-held plans to carry out a shooting and talk of being deeply depressed.