When the morning mass began at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, no one imagined it would turn into one of the most horrifying days of their lives. Fifth-grader Weston Halsne, just 10 years old, was seated near the stained-glass windows of the church, along with classmates from Annunciation Catholic School. Minutes later, gunfire erupted.
Shots tore through the colorful windows, shattering the peaceful service. Children screamed and ducked under pews. Weston remembered thinking, “What is that?” when he heard the first shot. As the second rang out, he dove under the pew and covered his head. But the bullets were too close. “I was like two seats away from the stained glass windows,” he later said.
In that terrifying moment, his classmate Victor acted without hesitation. Victor threw himself over Weston, using his own body as a human shield. That decision may have saved Weston’s life, though Victor himself was shot.
“My friend Victor, like, saved me though. Because he laid on top of me. But he got hit. I was super scared for him.”
Weston, still in shock, told reporters later.
At first, Weston thought he only had gunpowder sprayed on his neck. But doctors soon discovered something far more dangerous: a bullet fragment lodged in his neck, frighteningly close to his carotid artery.
His father, Grant Halsne, described it as nothing short of a miracle. “If it went any further, he would’ve died,” he told NBC News. The fragment missed the artery by the slimmest margin. Now Weston faces surgery to remove it. While the procedure is considered low risk, the location is delicate. His family hopes doctors can operate soon, and they’ve launched a GoFundMe to help cover medical costs.
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Get Your Plan Limited-time offers may apply. Tap to see your options.The emotional toll has already begun. Weston has trouble being alone. Loud noises make him jump.
“To me, it still doesn’t register. It doesn’t feel real.”
His father admits.
“I was super happy, because like, I was scared that I wasn’t going to see her.”
Weston himself admitted he was overwhelmed when he finally reunited with his mother after the chaos, saying.
The shooting claimed the lives of two children: 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski. In total, 21 people were injured, including 15 students between ages six and 15, and even three parishioners in their 80s. One child remains in critical condition.
The gunman, 23-year-old Robin Westman, had once attended the same school and had ties to the church. Wearing black tactical gear, Westman opened fire with multiple weapons, leaving behind approximately 120 shell casings before turning the gun on themselves at the rear of the church. Investigators later recovered hundreds of pieces of evidence and are still combing through the shooter’s writings, videos, and devices to uncover a motive.
Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, responded by sending state law enforcement officers to schools and churches in the area, stating, “No child should go to school worried about losing a classmate or gunshots erupting during prayer.”
“People who say that this is not about guns, you got to be kidding me. This is about guns. There are other countries around the world where horrific acts have taken place like this, and then they step up to make a change so that it, in fact, does not happen again.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the city “united in grief” and demanded action on gun laws.
For Weston, the journey ahead is still uncertain. His friend’s bravery gave him another chance at life, but the bullet fragment inside his body is a reminder of just how close he came to becoming another tragic statistic. Despite the fear and trauma, Weston carries a deep sense of gratitude.
“I hope you’re OK and I’m praying for you.”
He shared a message directly to Victor.
What began as an ordinary Wednesday Mass has now become a story of loss, survival, sacrifice, and the unthinkable presence of danger in a place meant to be safe. For one boy, a fragment of metal still lodged in his neck will forever mark the day when faith, fear, and courage collided inside a Minneapolis church.
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