Memorial vigil for victims of Minnesota Church of the Annunciation school shooting
Mourners gather to remember the victims of the Church of the Annunciation shooting.
A Minneapolis boy who shielded his classmates with his body during last summer’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and school received an award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society on Wednesday, March 25, officials said.
Victor Greenawalt was one of six recipients of this year’s National Medal of Honor Day, including five individuals and a nonprofit organization, according to the Medal of Honor Society. The six recipients were presented with the Civic Honor Award for their “extraordinary acts of heroism and service within the community,” the news release said.
The Medal of Honor Society has named Victor the 2026 Young Hero recipient for his “extraordinary courage well beyond his years at the time” during the August 27, 2025, Annunciation Catholic Church and school shootings. The award recognizes Americans under the age of 17 for “courage in dire circumstances,” according to the Medal of Honor Society’s website.
“Victor instinctively used his body to protect his classmates and directly saved their lives during the attack,” the Medal of Honor Society said in a news release. “His courage and selflessness made him a powerful symbol of hope and humanity for communities in crisis.”
The award was presented by the Medal of Honor Society, a Congressional nonprofit organization comprised of 64 living Medal of Honor recipients, during a ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
“I jumped in front of the gunfire to protect my friend.”
According to a GoFundMe page, Victor and his sister were injured when they fired shots from a window at Annunciation Catholic Church at young students worshiping at mass. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a statement on social media that Victor “jumped in front of the gunfire to protect his friend during a tragic mass shooting.”
“Victor’s actions saved my friend’s life,” Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said on social media. “I’m so proud of Victor, but this is truly heartbreaking. Our children don’t have to live like this in America. We must do better for our children and pass an assault weapons ban.”
Weston Hulson, who was 10 years old at the time of the attack and a fifth-grader at Annunciation Catholic School, told local NBC affiliate KARE 11 that he was sitting two seats away from the stained glass window when the bullets started raining down.
Weston fell to the ground, as did other students around him, the television station reported. A friend, later identified as Victor, tried to protect Weston and was shot in the back.
“But my friend Victor saved me because he was lying on top of me and he got hit,” Weston said, calling his friend “brave.” The man told police that his friend went to the hospital and thought he was doing well.
According to the GoFundMe page, Victor and his family were facing a “long journey of recovery.” In an update on August 29, 2025, the GoFundMe page stated that Victor has been released from the hospital and is recovering with his family.
“We know there is still a long road to healing for our family and community,” according to the GoFundMe page. “A heartfelt thank you from our entire family. This week we are focusing on the light, the amazing stories of people helping each other.”
What happened with Annunciation Catholic Church and the school shooting?
The shooting occurred at the Catholic Church of the Annunciation, which also houses a private elementary school in Minneapolis that serves about 395 students. According to authorities, the attack occurred just before 8:30 a.m. local time on August 27, 2025.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the gunman approached the outside of the church building and opened fire on children sitting in pews inside. Two children, 10-year-old Harper Moisky and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, were killed in the attack.
Police initially said 18 people were injured, including 15 students aged 6 to 18 and three parishioners in their 80s. Police later said 24 children and three adults were injured in the shooting, MPR News reported.
Police said at least two of the injured were seriously injured. All of the injured were expected to recover, but family members of some of the injured had previously said it would be a long road to recovery from serious gunshot wounds.
The suspect in the shooting, identified as Robin Westman, 23, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, O’Hara said.
Contributor: Carissa Wadick, USA TODAY
