The FBI is investigating the shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday morning as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.
This was written in X by Principal Kash Patel.
We recall that three people died and at least 20 others were injured in the attack. Among the dead and injured are children.
The injuries are not life-threatening.
The shooter has been identified as 23-year-old Robert Westman, who filed documents years ago stating that he is a transgender woman and wants to change his name to Robin Westman. He also died in a suspected suicide.
Westman is believed to have acted alone in the attack and legally purchased the rifle, pistol, and shotgun used.
Westman had planned to post a manifesto on YouTube, but the content was taken down with the assistance of the FBI. Letters, notes, videos, and a sketch of a church were found, which likely suggest long-term planning of the attack.
His ties to the school are being investigated.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called on politicians to take more serious action against gun violence, while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he was "praying for our children and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence".
US President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff until August 31 as a sign of mourning.
The incident occurred two days after the start of the school year at the private elementary school, which has about 395 children. The students were attending morning mass at the time of the shooting, local media reported.
Police in the suburb of Richfield said the shooter was armed with a rifle and dressed entirely in black. The first call came in at 8:27 a.m. local time, shortly after the start of the mass.