Minneapolis, MN
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.
After the shooter turned the gun on himself — ending his rampage, Weston recounted the horror to reporters in an interview that quickly went viral.
“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.”
“If it [the bullet fragment] went any further, he would’ve died,” Weston’s father, Grand Halsne, told NBC News.
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.
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.
What to do when door-to-door salespeople come knocking at your door? There are some rules of what they can and can’t do. Plus, we get some advice for finding deals for summer travel, and what is cheaper, a flight or a road trip? And a free concert series returns, we get a preview of Lowertown Sounds.
Minneapolis leaders are divided over whether to keep paying for ShotSpotter as the city weighs a new contract for the gunfire detection system.
A public hearing at City Hall focused on the technology as Minneapolis negotiates a new contract with SoundThinking, the company that provides ShotSpotter. Deputy Chief of Investigations Travis Riddle told the council the system supports gun violence strategies and can alert police no later than 60 seconds after shots are fired.
Critics at the hearing said the technology is not proven enough and argued the money could be spent in other ways. The proposed deal would cost $3.7 million through 2029 and would expand ShotSpotter into new areas of Minneapolis.
“We have actually had a contract with SoundThinking for their ShotSpotter services since 2014, and even with this technology for over 12 years now, MPD’s solve rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings were some of the worst in the country,” Council member Robin Wonsley said.
Council members pushed back on the long-term proposal and said they want a one-year deal instead. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw disagreed with concerns raised by her colleague during the debate.
“In my opinion, and in folks I’ve heard from the North Side who have shown up here time and time again to say that we want this technology, we believe that ShotSpotter is a tool that the police use to save lives,” LaTrisha Vetaw said
City Council is set to take up the issue again on June 17. Minneapolis police are expected to return with a one-year contract instead of the three-year contract brought forward at the hearing.
Premiere vocal ensemble, Cantus is bringing the songs of Dolly Parton to the stage with fresh interpretations. The show will cover her classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” Cantus Presents, COVERS: Dolly & Friends runs through June 7th at the Luminary Arts Center at 700 N 1st St. in Minneapolis.
-
Lifestyle23 minutes ago‘How to Rule the World’ explores education and power at Stanford University
-
Technology35 minutes agoCyberdecks used to look like little laptops, but now they’re getting more personal
-
World38 minutes agoPete Hegseth warns narco-terrorists as U.S. backs Bolivia’s government amid coup warnings
-
Politics43 minutes agoDemocrats split over Tlaib’s Lebanon measure as Republicans seize on Hezbollah omission
-
Health50 minutes agoPopular weight-loss diet shows surprising impact on serious mental health condition
-
Sports53 minutes agoNBA bans two fans for life after court invasion during Knicks-Spurs Game 1
-
Technology58 minutes agoCharter breach warning: What customers should know
-
Business1 hour agoTrump announces new coal export terminal in Oakland
