Minneapolis, MN
Boy ‘leaped in front of gunfire’ to save a friend. Now, he’s being honored
Vigils honor victims of Minnesota Annunciation Church school shooting
Mourners gathered to honor victims of the Annunciation Church shooting.
A boy from Minneapolis received an award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society on Wednesday, March 25, for shielding a classmate with his body during a mass shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church and School last summer, officials said.
Victor Greenawalt was one of six honorees, including five people and a non-profit organization, for this year’s National Medal of Honor Day, according to the Medal of Honor Society. The six recipients were recognized with a Citizen Honor Award for their “extraordinary acts of heroism and service within their communities,” a news release states.
The Medal of Honor Society named Victor as the 2026 Young Hero Honoree for demonstrating “extraordinary bravery far beyond his years” during the Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting on Aug. 27, 2025. The award honors Americans 17 years old or younger “for their courage in a dire situation,” according to the Medal of Honor Society’s website.
“Instinctively, Victor protected a classmate with his own body, directly saving their life during the attack,” the Medal of Honor Society said in the news release. “His courage and selflessness became a powerful symbol of hope and humanity for a community in crisis.”
The award was presented by the Medal of Honor Society, a congressionally chartered, non-profit organization comprised of the 64 living Medal of Honor recipients, during a ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.
‘Leaped in front of gunfire to protect his friend’
Victor and his sister were injured when a shooter fired through the windows of the Annunciation Catholic Church toward young students worshipping at Mass, according to a GoFundMe page. In a statement on social media, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Victor “leaped in front of gunfire to protect his friend during the tragic mass shooting.”
“Victor’s actions saved his friend’s life,” Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, of Minnesota, said in a statement on social media. “I am so proud of Victor, but this is just heartbreaking. Our kids shouldn’t have to live this way in America. We must do better for our kids and pass an assault weapons ban.”
Weston Halsne, who was 10 and a fifth grader at Annunciation Catholic School at the time of the attack, was sitting two seats away from the stained-glass windows when the bullets began to rain down, he told the local NBC-affiliate KARE 11.
Like the other students around him, Weston dropped to the ground, the television station reported. A friend, who was later identified as Victor, tried to shield Weston and was shot in the back.
“My friend Victor, like, saved me, though, because he laid on top of me, but he got hit,” Weston said, calling his friend “brave.” He told the station he thought his friend went to the hospital and was doing all right.
Victor and his family were facing a “long journey of recovery,” according to the GoFundMe page. In an Aug. 29, 2025, update, the GoFundMe page stated that Victor had been released from the hospital and was recovering with his family.
“We know that there is still a long road ahead of healing for our family and the community,” according to the GoFundMe page. “A sincere and deeply felt thank you from our entire family. We are trying to focus on the light – the incredible stories of people helping each other this week.”
What happened in the Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting?
The deadly shooting occurred at the Church of the Annunciation, a Catholic church that also houses a private elementary school in Minneapolis with about 395 students. The attack occurred just before 8:30 a.m. local time on Aug. 27, 2025, authorities said.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the shooter approached the outside of the church building and fired inside toward the children sitting in pews. Two children, 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, were killed in the attack.
Police initially reported that 18 other people were injured, including 15 students ages 6 to 18 and three parishioners in their 80s. Police later reported that 24 children and three adults were injured by gunfire, MPR News reported.
Of the injured, police said at least two were critically injured. All the injured had been expected to recover, though family members of some previously said they will have long roads to recovery from serious bullet wounds.
The shooting suspect, identified as Robin Westman, 23, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, according to O’Hara.
Contributing: Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY
The scene of the crash at 26th Avenue North and Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis woman was sentenced for her role in a deadly crash that killed two women and injured two other people in December 2024.
READ MORE: Minneapolis woman charged in fatal high-speed crash faces additional charges
Woman sentenced in fatal Minneapolis crash
Big picture view:
Prosecutors say Teniki Steward drove a Buick Enclave into a bus shelter and a Ford Explorer after speeding through a red light.
Both of the women in the Ford Explorer died in the crash. They were identified as 53-year-old Ester Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece.
During the crash, the Ford Explorer went off the road, injuring a 17-year-old boy who was waiting for a school bus.
The passenger in Steward’s vehicle also suffered injuries.
Minneapolis police said that Steward was also injured in the crash.
Steward pleaded guilty to multiple murder charges.
What they’re saying:
During the sentencing, the daughter of one of the victims had a statement read on her behalf:
“There’s nothing that can truly prepare you for the moment your entire world is taken from you. Losing my mom has left a pain in my heart that words will never be able to explain.”
What’s next:
Minnesota law requires that Steward serves at least two-thirds of her sentence, a bit under eight-and-a-half years, in prison.
Fatal Emerson and 26th crash
The backstory:
According to the criminal complaint, through surveillance videos from the scene of the crash and witnesses, investigators learned that Steward, driving the Buick Enclave, had been driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Emerson Avenue North.
Before the fatal crash, Steward sped through the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North, running a red light and nearly causing a crash, the charges said.
Steward then continued to speed northbound down Emerson Avenue North, and ran another red light at 26th Avenue North, hitting the Ford Explorer, which was traveling eastbound, according to the complaint.
The Ford Explorer had been at the intersection of Emerson and 26th on a green light.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty shared the following statement:
“This was an egregious act that took Rose and Esther’s lives and injured a child waiting to go to school at a bus stop. Ms. Steward was driving at extremely dangerous speeds on city streets and narrowly avoided multiple collisions before the incident occurred. Third-degree murder charges are appropriate to hold her accountable and protect our community.”
The Source: This story uses information gathered from an Olmsted County court appearance and previous FOX 9 reporting.
A motorcyclist is dead after an early morning crash in Minneapolis Friday morning.
The Minnesota State Patrol said that at 1:20 a.m., a Suzuki Motorcycle going north on I-35W at Johnson Street hit the left side of the median guard rail.
The motorcycle continued north for about another quarter mile before coming to a rest on the right-hand side.
State Patrol said the rider came to rest on the left shoulder. He was later identified as 21-year-old Andrew James Neuberger.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Rochester Spartans boys volleyball team played its second game on consecutive nights. The Spartans beat Minneapolis Camden 3-0.
Rochester’s next game will be Tuesday, April 21, at St. Anthony Village at 7:00 p.m.
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