What was supposed to be an ordinary day of worship at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis turned into a nightmare when gunfire erupted, leaving families shattered and children traumatized. Among the survivors is 10-year-old Weston Halsne, whose story has moved the nation.
Just moments after the mass shooting that claimed the lives of two children and injured more than a dozen others—including three adults—Weston bravely spoke to reporters, believing he had only been grazed. “I think I got gunpowder on my neck,” he told them shortly after escaping the chaos. But now, his family says the situation is far more serious than first believed.
🚨 A Hidden Threat: Shrapnel Near a Vital Artery
Weston’s aunt, Allison Hawes, revealed in a GoFundMe update that doctors discovered a bullet fragment lodged dangerously close to his carotid artery. Surgeons will need to operate to remove the shrapnel, a procedure his father described as a “near-death situation.”
“If it went any further, he would’ve died,” his father, Grant Halsne, told NBC News. The family is grateful their son survived but admits the ordeal has left lasting emotional scars.
🙏 A Fifth Grader’s Heroic Friend Saved His Life
During the terrifying spray of bullets, Weston recalled diving under a pew as chaos erupted. But what stood out most in his account was his friend Victor’s selfless act. “My friend Victor saved me… he laid on top of me, but he got hit in the back,” Weston said, calling his classmate “really brave.”
Victor’s quick action may have saved Weston’s life, but both boys—and their classmates—now face a long road to recovery from the emotional trauma.
💔 The Weight of Trauma
Weston’s father says his son now struggles with fear, especially when alone or when he hears loud noises. “He’s scared of loud sounds,” Grant explained. And Weston is not the only one scarred.
Another survivor, 11-year-old Chloe Francoual, expressed her heartbreak: “You’re supposed to go to a church to feel safe. I don’t feel safe anymore in that church.”
🕊️ A Community in Mourning
At the parish’s first Mass since the tragedy, Father Dennis Zehren described the panic inside the sanctuary. “The voices cried out, ‘Down! Down! Get low! Stay down!’” he said through tears. The priest admitted he wished he could have shielded 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, the two children who lost their lives.
“If I could have got between those bullets and the kids, that’s what I was hoping to do,” he shared, his grief echoing that of the entire community.
🌟 Why This Story Matters
Weston’s survival highlights both the resilience of children in crisis and the devastating consequences of gun violence in places once considered safe havens. His bravery, Victor’s sacrifice, and the community’s grief remind us that the impact of such tragedies extends far beyond the headlines.
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