A young boy’s life was saved by a friend’s brave actions during a tragic shooting at a junior school in Minnesota. It was later found that a bullet fragment had struck the boy’s neck.
Ten-year-old Weston Halsne shared his experience with the media following the shooting at Mass in the church next to Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis on August 27.
This devastating event claimed the lives of 10-year-old Harper Moyski and eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel. Seventeen others were injured by a 23-year-old shooter identified by police as Robin Westman.
The shooter, armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, reportedly barricaded the church doors from the outside and fired through the stained glass windows.
Weston, a fifth-grader, recounted his friend’s courageous act, expressing his suspicion that he might have been hit by gunfire.
“It was like right beside me … I think I got gunpowder on my neck,” Weston said. “The first one, I was like, ‘What is that?’ and then I heard it again and I just ran under the pew.”
He described how his friend shielded him during the attack. “(He) saved me though because he laid on top of me, but he got hit. He’s really brave, and I hope he’s good in the hospital,” Weston explained.
Following confirmation that Weston was struck by a bullet fragment, a GoFundMe page was established to support his recovery.
Cousin Allison Hawes, who set up the page, described Weston in the post: “If you’ve met my nephew, Weston, you know his love of basketball, being with friends, and enjoying a candy or two. You’ve been amazed by his quick wit, awed by his persistence, and charmed by his earnestness.”
“If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve seen his grief-stricken face and heard, despite his shock, Weston’s account of the horrific details during the mass at Annunciation Church. And in spite of everything, this 10-year-old boy was able to express appreciation for his friends and pray for their recovery.”
“Since the interview, it has been discovered that Weston will need surgery to remove a bullet fragment that is lodged in his neck, dangerously close to his carotid artery.”
She urged: “I am hoping that we, Weston’s community, near and far, can show him our support and love in any means possible. Share this link, contribute, or pray for Weston and the children and families at Annunciation. He’s been a light in the darkness. Contributions will go toward Weston’s medical bills, trauma counselling, and support for his immediate family.”
A disturbing manifesto left by the shooter, who died by suicide before being apprehended, revealed motives that suggested a hate crime against the church.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara strongly condemned the attack, stating: “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.”
If you have been affected by the events described in this article, additional resources and support are available through Survivors Empowered at their website.