MINNEAPOLIS — The mother of the 23-year-old shooter who carried out Wednesday’s deadly attack at Annunciation Catholic School has retained a criminal defense attorney and is not cooperating with investigators, police confirmed.

At a press conference Thursday, Police Chief Brian O’Hara said authorities have made multiple attempts to contact Mary Grace Westman, but “we have not been successful in talking to the shooter’s mother.”

The incident, which occurred during a morning Mass marking the start of the school year, left two children dead and 18 others wounded, including 15 students. Several remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Legal representation

Attorney Ryan Garry confirmed Thursday night that he is representing Westman. “She is completely distraught about the situation and has no culpability but is seeking an attorney to deal with calls like this,” Garry told Fox News.

Garry is a Minneapolis-based defense lawyer known for handling high-profile cases, including representing demonstrators during the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd and several public figures facing federal or state charges.

Background

Mary Grace Westman previously worked as a secretary at Annunciation Catholic School, where her son had also been a student. She retired from the school in 2021.

Police have executed four search warrants since the attack, seizing electronic devices and other evidence. Investigators are reviewing a manifesto linked to the shooter, as well as writings found on firearm magazines.

Authorities say the shooter died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Community impact

The shooting has left the Minneapolis community reeling. Classes had only resumed two days earlier, and the school, located less than a mile from the Westman family home, was hosting a celebratory Mass when the gunfire erupted.

In a statement Thursday, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis expressed grief over the tragedy, saying its “hearts are broken for the victims, their families, and the entire Annunciation community.” Counseling services and vigils are being organized in the neighborhood.

Next steps

Investigators continue to piece together a timeline of the events leading up to the shooting. Authorities have not indicated whether Mary Grace Westman is suspected of wrongdoing but confirmed she has not cooperated with their inquiries.

For now, the community remains focused on supporting victims’ families and ensuring student safety as the school recovers from one of the deadliest attacks in Minnesota in recent years.