Annunciation shooting: Minneapolis police search-warrant updates victim count to 30
A Minneapolis police search warrant updated the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church shooting victim count to 30 — two killed, 29 people wounded by gunfire (including three adults and 26 juveniles) and one person with non‑gunfire injuries, with some victims later found to have shrapnel wounds and others self‑transporting to hospitals. In the aftermath, survivors such as Sophia Forchas and 12‑year‑old Lydia Kaiser have made recovery milestones after surgeries, Minnesota doctors have urged a special legislative session and bans on assault‑style weapons and high‑capacity magazines, and legal and immigration proceedings involving suspect Kilmar Abrego Garcia have moved through courts — including orders for his release from ICE custody that the administration is contesting and further hearings that remain pending.
📌 Key Facts
- Minneapolis police search-warrant updated the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church shooting victim count to 30: 2 killed, 29 people sustained gunfire injuries and one person had non-gunfire injuries; among those shot were 3 adults and 26 juveniles, with additional shrapnel wounds found after initial triage and some victims presenting to hospitals on their own.
- 12-year-old Lydia Kaiser has returned to school (reported Oct. 1); she underwent surgery that removed part of her skull to allow brain swelling and will need ongoing care.
- Survivor Sophia Forchas was discharged from Hennepin County Medical Center roughly two months after the Aug. 27 shooting; she had surgery (including skull removal), was placed in a medically induced coma, doctors had warned she could become a third fatality, and at discharge she could walk and talk and is returning to school.
- The Minnesota Medical Association organized clinicians who treated Annunciation victims to call for a special legislative session and specific gun-policy changes: statewide bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, a statewide safe-storage requirement, and removal of the state prohibition that prevents localities from enacting stricter gun rules.
- Archbishop Bernard Hebda hand-delivered cards made by Annunciation students to Pope Leo XIV, who promised his prayers for the families and the Archdiocese; Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Kenney also personally gave the Pope a 100th-Annunciation-anniversary button.
- Federal court activity tied to the suspected shooter, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, includes a Tennessee federal judge warning Trump administration officials about public statements regarding him and rescheduling federal hearings on his motions to dismiss smuggling charges and suppress evidence for Dec. 8–9, 2025 in Nashville.
- Immigration-custody developments: Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland noted no final order of removal in the record and questioned continued detention; on Dec. 11 an immigration judge ordered Abrego Garcia’s immediate release from ICE custody, requiring ICE to notify his attorney and coordinate Pretrial Services, but the Trump administration is disputing that release and seeking to keep him detained.
- The government has signaled plans to remove Abrego Garcia to a third country (ICE has proposed Liberia and earlier listed Uganda, Eswatini and Ghana); officials said deportation to Costa Rica is 'not an option at the moment,' and an existing injunction from Judge Xinis has so far prevented his immediate removal while the government moves to lift it.
📊 Relevant Data
Undocumented immigrants are 37.1% less likely to be convicted of a crime than the U.S.-born population.
Immigrants less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born — NPR
As of 2025, 54% of mass shooting perpetrators in the U.S. are White, 17% are Black, and approximately 8% are Latino.
Mass shootings by shooter's race U.S. 2025 — Statista
Handguns are involved in about 78% of mass shootings in the US.
Guns used in mass shootings U.S. 2024 — Statista
The population in ZIP code 55419, where Annunciation Church is located, is 77.8% White and 8.2% Black.
ZIP Code 55419 Info, Map, Demographics for Minneapolis, MN — zip-codes.com
📰 Sources (13)
Kilmar Abrego Garcia heading back to Maryland after judge orders his release from ICE custody
New information:
- A federal judge in Maryland (Judge Paula Xinis) ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s immediate release from ICE custody on Thursday.
- The order requires ICE to notify Abrego Garcia’s attorney before release and to update the court on his release status by 5 p.m. Thursday.
- Pretrial Services is to coordinate with defense counsel on release conditions.
- All parties must file a joint status report by December 18.
- Context noted that ICE had signaled plans to remove him to a third country; the court found his re‑detention lacked lawful authority.
Trump administration disputes court order for release of Abrego Garcia from ICE custody
New information:
- The Trump administration is disputing an immigration judge’s order directing the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody.
- The challenge seeks to keep Abrego Garcia detained despite the prior release order.
Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be immediately released from immigration detention
New information:
- An immigration judge ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be immediately released from immigration detention on Dec. 11, 2025.
- This marks a significant change in Garcia’s immigration custody status following earlier reporting that he faced federal and immigration proceedings connected to the Annunciation Church mass shooting aftermath.
Judge to rule on whether to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody
New information:
- A federal judge in Maryland (Paula Xinis) said she will rule as soon as possible on whether to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody.
- Judge Xinis noted there is no final order of removal in the record and suggested he likely should not be detained without one.
- ICE official John Cantu testified DHS now proposes deporting Abrego Garcia to Liberia; earlier notices included Uganda, Eswatini and Ghana.
- The government has not pursued deportation to Costa Rica despite prior indications it could accept him; Cantu said Costa Rica is 'not an option at the moment' without explaining why.
- An existing injunction from Judge Xinis currently prevents his immediate removal; the government has moved to lift that injunction.
After mistaken deportation, Abrego Garcia fights smuggling charges. Here’s what to know
New information:
- Federal hearings on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s motions to dismiss smuggling charges and suppress evidence are rescheduled to Dec. 8–9, 2025, before Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville.
- Judge Crenshaw previously found “some evidence” the prosecution may be vindictive and cited statements by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as cause for concern.
- The parties are disputing whether senior Justice Department officials, including Blanche, can be compelled to provide testimony or documents.
- A DHS agent testified he did not begin investigating the 2022 Tennessee traffic stop until after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the administration to work to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.
- Details of the 2022 stop: nine passengers were in the vehicle; Abrego Garcia was let go with a warning after a calm exchange; officers discussed suspected smuggling.
A federal judge in Tennessee warns Trump officials over statements about Kilmar Abrego Garcia
New information:
- A federal judge in Tennessee warned Trump administration officials about their public statements regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
- The admonition was issued on Oct. 28, 2025, in Tennessee federal court.
- The warning pertains to statements about Abrego Garcia, the suspect linked to the Minneapolis Annunciation Church mass shooting.
Sophia Forchas leaves hospital two months after Annunciation shooting
New information:
- Victim Sophia Forchas has been discharged from the hospital roughly two months after the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church shooting.
- The article pinpoints the timing of her release (reported Oct. 23, 2025), marking a concrete recovery milestone.
Annunciation shooting survivor Sophia Forchas released from hospital after 'miraculous recovery'
New information:
- Annunciation shooting survivor Sophia Forchas was released from Hennepin County Medical Center on Thursday, nearly two months after being shot in the head on Aug. 27.
- Doctors had previously warned she could become the third fatality; she underwent surgery that included removal of part of her skull and was placed in a medically induced coma.
- Forchas was able to walk and talk with supporters at discharge and is returning to school; community members greeted her with banners outside HCMC.
Annunciation shooting: Victim count rises to 30
New information:
- Minneapolis police search warrant states total victim count is now 30 for the Aug. 27 shooting.
- Of the 30 victims, 2 were killed and 29 sustained injuries from gunfire; one additional victim had non-gunfire injuries.
- Breakdown: 3 adults and 26 juveniles were injured by gunfire; some additional shrapnel wounds were discovered after initial triage and some victims went to hospitals on their own.
Annunciation shooting: Students' acts of kindness reach Pope Leo XIV
New information:
- Archbishop Bernard Hebda hand-delivered cards made by Annunciation students to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
- Archbishop Hebda said the Pope promised his prayers for the families and the Archdiocese in a released statement.
- Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Kenney reported personally giving the Pope a 100th-Annunciation-anniversary button and provided on-air comments about the meeting.
Annunciation shooting: Doctors in Minnesota call for gun ban, special session
New information:
- Minnesota Medical Association organized doctors — including clinicians who treated Annunciation victims — to demand a special legislative session on gun policy.
- Doctors laid out specific policy asks: statewide bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines; a statewide safe-storage requirement; and removal of the state prohibition that blocks localities from enacting stricter gun rules.
- Named quotes from Dr. Trish Vilsic and Dr. Lisa Matson describing the clinical harms seen and converting medical testimony into a public policy demand.
Annunciation mass shooting: Lydia Kaiser returns to school after attack
New information:
- 12-year-old Lydia Kaiser has returned to school as of a Sept. 30 GoFundMe update reported Oct. 1, 2025.
- Medical detail: Kaiser underwent surgery that removed a piece of her skull to allow her brain to swell and will need ongoing care.
- Uvalde Foundation for Kids announced it will award Kaiser its National Student Heroism Award (statement from founder Daniel Chapin).