Minneapolis, MN

Boy ‘leaped in front of gunfire’ to save a friend. Now, he’s being honored

Published

1 month ago

March 25, 2026

Boy ‘leaped in front of gunfire’ to save a friend. Now, he’s being honored

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

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Minneapolis, MN

San Antonio visits Minnesota with 2-1 series lead – WTOP News

Published

5 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Sunday,…

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 215.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Spurs lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference second round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-108 on Saturday, led by 39 points from Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32.

The Timberwolves are 31-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.

The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Julian Champagnie averaging 3.0.

The Timberwolves’ 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. De’Aaron Fox is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.

Spurs: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).

Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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Minneapolis, MN

‘The power of truth:’ How high school students reported on the ICE surge in their front yard

Published

17 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

‘The power of truth:’ How high school students reported on the ICE surge in their front yard

Student journalists at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis witnessed federal agents shove staffers and students and deploy pepper spray on school grounds last January. That inspired them to report stories of how that event and the ICE surge impacted their colleagues and communities.

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