Security Lessons from Church of the Annunciation Attack

Shortly before 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 27, 2025, as faculty and elementary- and middle-school students of Annunciation Catholic School gathered for their first all-school Mass of the year, gunfire suddenly ripped through the stained-glass windows of the sanctuary at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Active Shooter Prevention Saves Lives in Wayne, MI ]

In a carefully premeditated attack, the lone murderer—dressed in black, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, and positioned outside the church—killed two children, injured 18 other people, and then committed suicide. The assailant had barricaded at least two exit doors from the outside with pieces of lumber. Witnesses say the attack lasted no more than two minutes. News reports do not indicate that a church security team was present.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

Approximately 116 rifle ammunition casings, one unfired pistol cartridge, and three shotgun shell casings were recovered from the scene. The handgun appeared to have malfunctioned.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Criminals and Terrorists Overwhelmingly Select Gun-Free Zones For Mass Attacks in Public Spaces ]

In his notebook, where he planned his attack, the killer wrote, “feeling good about Annunciation” because it is a “good combo of easy attack for me and devastating tragedy.” The school is a gun-free zone, as according to Minnesota law, it’s illegal for a law-abiding firearm permit holder to carry a pistol on public or private elementary or secondary school property, or in buildings.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Head of the Arkansas State Police Supports 2nd Amendment Rights ]

Gabriel Suarez, retired law enforcement officer, recipient of the Police Medal of Valor, author, and owner/CEO of Suarez Tactics, offers blunt insight when dealing with an active killer: “I want actionable information on the “HOW”….The only thing that matters to me are things that I can use to identify, locate, and terminate the shooter….” Such as “Identify and Locate: What were they wearing? How were they concealing their weapons…or were they? Where did they park? Were there any explosives, any armor, or IEDs? How did they approach the building? How were they moving? Those sorts of things.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The 5 Lines of Defense in Church Security, Beginning Outside ]

Sharpen your own church security by considering the following:

•  How did the attacker arrive at the school/church? If he drove, how did he park (within the lines or haphazardly; close to the building or at a distance) and exit (furtively, nervously looking around) the vehicle? Was his behavior observably unusual?

•  Could it have been concerning that he wore all black? Did he take time arming himself with three weapons, or were they already covered up on his body? Were his hands holding the guns as he exited his vehicle?

•  Shouldn’t the killer’s use of 2×4 wood to blockade the buildings doors have raised someone’s suspicion?

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

•  Would even a single security volunteer in the parking lot have been able to observe and act upon the killer’s preparatory behavior?

•  Could the church have adhered laminate film on the windows to inhibit breakage?

•  Conduct a security audit of your worship facility to determine its vulnerability.

Also see the Christian Warrior Training articles:

•  Threat Intelligence Briefing: Increased Chance of Copycat Attacks

•  Minneapolis Church Shooting: Understanding the Suspect’s Video

— Get the SemperVerus booklet, The Case for Biblical Self-Defense —

---

---

Invite SemperVerus^® to present its 5 life-changing success-generating components—prepare, aware, be, know, do—to your organization to inspire and motivate your members.

Join the SemperVerus Brotherhood™!