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Bullet fragment found in neck of Minneapolis school shooting survivor as parents tout ‘miracle’: ‘If it went any further, he would’ve died’

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Bullet fragment found in neck of Minneapolis school shooting survivor as parents tout ‘miracle’: ‘If it went any further, he would’ve died’


A fifth-grader whose harrowing tale of survival during the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting — thanks to a pal who shielded him — went viral last week, walked away with a bullet fragment lodged in his neck.

Weston Halsne, 10, was attending morning mass at Annunciation Catholic School last Wednesday when more than 100 rounds of gunfire burst through a stained glass window.

In the chaos, Weston ducked beneath the pews like they’d practiced during lockdown drills and was shielded by his friend Victor, who was shot in the process but also survived.

Weston Halsne, 10, thought he had gunpowder on his neck, but was actually struck by a bullet fragment. Steven Garcia for NY Post
Gunman Robin Westman opened fire during a morning mass at the Catholic school. AP

After the shooter turned the gun on himself — ending his rampage, Weston recounted the horror to reporters in an interview that quickly went viral.

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“I was like two seats away from the stained glass windows, so the shots were, like, right next to me,” Weston said.

“I think I got, like, gunpowder on my neck,” he added.

Doctors, though, later discovered that Weston had a piece of a bullet fragment in his neck that was dangerously close to his carotid artery — making his survival a certified “miracle.”

Multiple students were injured but are all expected to recover. AP
Two students were killed during the shooting. The gunman killed himself. REUTERS

“If it [the bullet fragment] went any further, he would’ve died,” Weston’s father, Grand Halsne, told NBC News.

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Weston and his parents are working to confirm a surgery date to have the fragment removed.

Despite the near-fatal hit, Weston is still expected to make a full physical recovery, Halsne assured.

Police are still investigating the shooting. REUTERS

Mentally, however, the fifth-grader is still working through the trauma like many school shooting survivors. He’s afraid to be alone and flinches at “loud noises,” something Halsne attributes to the clear trauma of watching the student to his left be killed.

Harper Moyski, another 10-year-old in Weston’s grade, and Fletcher Merkel, 8, were both killed “where they sat” after deranged gunman Robin Westman fired through the window and barricaded a door inside before turning the gun on himself.

Westman was found dead, dressed in black “tactical” gear with three different guns he tried to use. He primarily used a semiautomatic rifle, but also had a shotgun and a semiautomatic pistol that jammed during the rampage.

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Man Gets 8.5 Years For Trying To Join ISIS In Somalia

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Minneapolis Man Gets 8.5 Years For Trying To Join ISIS In Somalia


MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A 23-year-old Minneapolis man was sentenced Wednesday to 102 months in prison and 15 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.

Prosecutors said Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan tried to travel from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Somalia in December 2024 to join and fight for the foreign terrorist organization.

ISIS has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. secretary of state since 2014.

According to court documents cited by federal prosecutors, Hassan consumed and reposted ISIS propaganda, obtained bombmaking and weapons-related manuals, and communicated on social media with ISIS media wings and recruiters operating in Somalia.

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The U.S. attorney’s office said Hassan bought a one-way ticket, left Minneapolis for Chicago on Dec. 29, 2024, and was prevented from continuing to Somalia after an interview by Customs and Border Protection’s Tactical Terrorism Response Team.

Prosecutors said he later continued researching ISIS attacks and posting pro-ISIS content online before the FBI arrested him on Feb. 27, 2025.

Hassan pleaded guilty Sept. 29, 2025, before Judge Donovan W. Frank, who imposed the sentence on April 22.

In the announcement, FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson said, “Abdisatar Hassan took active steps in an attempt to join and support ISIS—a brutal foreign terrorist organization responsible for the violent deaths of thousands of innocent people.”

He added that the sentence “takes a would-be terrorist off the streets and sends a clear message that the FBI and our partners will unremittingly pursue anyone seeking to join or support a foreign terrorist organization.”

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This case was investigated by the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Customs and Border Protection and the New York Police Department.





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Minneapolis salon mixes rock and roll with haircuts: Inside HiFi Hair and Records

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Minneapolis salon mixes rock and roll with haircuts: Inside HiFi Hair and Records


A Minneapolis salon is turning heads by mixing rock and roll with haircuts, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for music lovers.

A salon where music and haircuts go hand in hand

What we know:

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HiFi Hair and Records sits on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, marked by a leopard print awning and a vibe that’s all about community through music. 

“I tried to model it after a barbershop,” said Jonny Clifford, owner of the salon. 

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Clifford opened the shop in 2011, inspired by his father who introduced him to music and was battling terminal cancer at the time.

The salon brings together the hum of blow dryers and the sounds of rock and roll, with Clifford saying, “Music is the uniter. Most everyone who is alive today grew up on rock and roll.” 

He added a record store the following year, letting customers browse new and used vinyl and CDs while waiting for their appointment. 

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“I jokingly refer to it as the coolest waiting room in the city,” said Clifford.

The shop is filled with memorabilia from music legends like Elvis, David Bowie and The Monkees. There’s even a wall dedicated to Minnesota’s local music scene. 

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Clifford said, “We’ve got Bobby V who I think never gets enough credit for his contributions to music in Minnesota.”

Clifford’s journey from punk haircuts to community hub

Why you should care:

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Clifford started cutting hair in the early 1980s because he and his friends in southwest Minneapolis couldn’t afford the punk haircuts they wanted. 

Now, he not only looks the part—”Ronny Wood, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, I’m always like old Keith Richards or young Keith Richards”—but he helps others feel like rock stars too. 

“People are like make me look like a rock star and that is sort of a universal term right. Everyone wants to look like a rock star,” said Clifford.

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His goal is simple:

“If I can make a living and raise my family, pay my bills, have a business and be a part of a community, that is important to me. I win. That’s everything,” said Clifford. 

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He is passionate about giving a boost to local musicians, saying, “I think they need it more. I love Lady Gaga and The Rolling Stones, but they are doing fine. Our local people haven’t made it national yet. They could use a voice. They could use a boost, and they need to be heard.”

The salon’s rhythm is all about joy, music and community, and Clifford plans to keep it going. 

“Til I kick over. I’ll probably be back standing behind the chair. And someone will complain I didn’t finish their haircut,” said Clifford.

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HiFi Hair and Records continues to be a place where music and style meet, giving Minnesota’s music scene a little extra volume.

Maury’s StoriesMinneapolis



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Edina shooting leaves 1 dead, suspects on run

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Edina shooting leaves 1 dead, suspects on run


A deadly shooting in Edina sparked a massive police response and forced a lockdown at nearby businesses at Southdale Mall on Wednesday as police are searching for the suspects.

Deadly Edina shooting

What we know:

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Edina police responded around 12:30 p.m. to the report of a shooting along West 66th Street near Southdale Mall.

At the scene, officers found one victim with a gunshot wound. Officers tried to revive the victim but say they ultimately died from their wounds.

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Local perspective:

Police say the suspects ran from the scene. As a precaution, they advised nearby businesses to go into lockdown. FOX 9 learned that MHealth Fairview also went into lockdown procedures as a precaution.

Aerial video from the scene showed the investigation appeared to be focused around an apartment building across from the mall. Police say the apartment building is described as a transitional housing.

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Avoid the area

Big picture view:

Police are asking the public to avoid the area as the investigation is underway. Officers have blocked off West 66th for the time being.

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Police say they are looking for more than one suspect involved in the shooting.

What we don’t know:

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Police say some people were taken into custody at the scene but it’s unclear what their role was in relation to the shooting.

Law enforcement near the 3300 block of W. 66th Street in Edina.  (FOX 9)

EdinaCrime and Public Safety
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