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.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed a new ordinance that carries a ban on assault weapons but won’t take effect unless there are major changes to state law.
Minneapolis gun ban ordinance signed
What we know:
The Minneapolis City Council approved the ordinance during its meeting last week.
The firearm regulations ordinance includes a ban on assault weapons, ghost guns, binary triggers, and high-capacity magazines. The ordinance also includes safe storage provisions for firearms.
Big picture view:
Many of the provisions in the law won’t go into effect unless there is a change in state law. Currently, Minnesota law prevents municipalities from enacting gun regulations.
Minnesota law only allows cities to bar the discharge of firearms within city limits and adopt regulations that are identical to state laws. Any regulations that go beyond state law are voided, according to state statute.
Local perspective:
Action on the gun ordinance was spurred by last year’s shooting at Annunciation Church and School. Two students were killed while attending morning mass at the church and more than two dozen students and parishioners were hurt in the barrage of gunfire.
Last week, parents of Annunciation students spoke out in support of the ordinance at a public hearing.
Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus threatens lawsuit
The other side:
Last year, St. Paul passed a similar law. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus filed a lawsuit shortly after the ordinance was signed. Arguments were heard last month on the case and a judge has set a trial for next year.
In a statement last week, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said it was evaluating its legal options in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Chair Bryan Strawser said:
“The City of Minneapolis is attempting to make a political statement with an ordinance it has no legal authority to enact. Minnesota law clearly preempts the entire field of firearms regulation, and local governments cannot simply ignore state statute because they dislike the policy outcome.
“If the City Council moves forward with this unlawful ordinance, we will evaluate every available legal option to challenge it, just as we did in Saint Paul.
“The law is not optional, even for Minneapolis.”
A man was hurt in a shooting in south Minneapolis late Tuesday night, according to police.
A report of shots fired brought officers to the 2600 block of Third Avenue South around 9:50 p.m., the Minneapolis Police Department said. They found evidence of gunfire and began investigating.
Later, a man with survivable gunshot wounds showed up at Hennepin Healthcare.
No one has been arrested.
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