Survivor of Minneapolis School Shooting Identified as 13-Year-Old Endre Gunter, Recovering After Surgery

Published: 28 August 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

Authorities have identified one of the 17 surviving victims of the mass school shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis as 13-year-old Endre Gunter. The teenager, who was struck in the stomach during the attack on Wednesday morning, August 27, has undergone surgery and is now recovering in hospital.

The shooting occurred during a back-to-school Mass when the suspected gunman, 34-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire on the church’s windows at approximately 8:30 a.m. Witnesses said the gunfire erupted suddenly as children and parishioners gathered for prayer.

Gunter’s mother described the terrifying ordeal, saying her son was shot “inside a church praying with his classmates.” She added that a Minneapolis police officer rushed to his side immediately, providing emergency aid while also comforting him until paramedics could arrive. “The officer hugged him, reassured him, and prayed with him before getting into the ambulance,” she told CNN.

Doctors successfully performed surgery on Gunter, and his family expressed gratitude for his survival. His mother said they would now focus on helping him “rebuild his life, his trust, and his confidence” in the wake of such trauma. “We pray that everyone touched by this tragedy can find the strength to begin rebuilding too,” she added.

The scale of the violence has left the Minneapolis community in shock. Fourteen children aged between 6 and 15 were injured in the shooting, along with three elderly parishioners in their 80s. Tragically, two children—an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old—were killed, though their names have not yet been released.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Westman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the church shortly after the attack. He also revealed that Westman had no known criminal history, but investigators discovered that he had prepared a manifesto timed to appear on YouTube. The video, which reportedly showed him at the scene alongside disturbing writings, was swiftly removed by federal authorities. According to police, Westman was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol.

FBI Director Kash Patel later announced that the shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.

In the aftermath, harrowing survivor accounts have begun to emerge. A 10-year-old student, Weston Halsne, told reporters from NBC affiliate KARE that his friend Victor shielded him from bullets, saving his life but being shot in the process. “My friend Victor saved me, though, because he laid on top of me, but he got hit,” Weston recalled, describing his friend as “brave.”

Parents, too, have shared the anguish of those terrifying moments. Vincent Francoual said his 11-year-old daughter Chloe was inside the church when the shooting began. Rushing to the scene, he described the emotional reunion. “She saw me first, and she just cried,” Francoual told MSNBC, adding that his daughter now feels “guilty” for not being able to help her classmates. “She thought she was going to die today,” he said.

Chief O’Hara has since confirmed that all surviving victims are expected to live, though several remain hospitalised with injuries ranging from minor grazes to life-threatening gunshot wounds. “Thankfully, despite some very serious injuries, they are expected to survive,” he said.

The Minneapolis tragedy has once again reignited concerns over school safety and gun violence in the United States, as families and the wider community struggle to come to terms with the devastation caused inside a place of worship. Vigils are expected to be held in the coming days as the city mourns the two young lives lost and prays for the recovery of those injured.