The Megyn Kelly Show

Episode: Horrifying Catholic School Shooting in Minneapolis – What We're Learning About Victims and Perpetrator
Date: August 27, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly (SiriusXM)

Overview

This emotionally charged episode covers the breaking news of a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis. Megyn Kelly leads a panel including law enforcement experts, journalists, and technology specialists to discuss the details, causes, and possible responses to the tragedy. The show examines the victims, the perpetrator’s background, the response from officials, the ongoing debate about gun control, and the systemic failures related to mental health and school security. The episode also explores the societal response to such recurring tragedies, with a focus on the need for effective prevention measures over partisan politicization.

Major Topics & Key Insights

1. Incident Details and Immediate Reactions

• Breaking News Coverage (00:21–06:57):
  • Shooting occurred at Annunciation Catholic School and Church during school mass.
  • At least 20 injured, 3 dead (including shooter); later specified as two children (ages 8 and 10) and the shooter.
  • Shooter fired through stained-glass windows with rifle, shotgun, and pistol.
  • “They're literally praying when they were shot... How is there an explanation? How is there faith in these moments?” – Megyn Kelly [00:41]
  • Chaos and trauma witnessed/recounted by neighbors and parents.
  • Reports of rapid and persistent gunfire; described as “eternity” [03:10].

2. Victims, Law Enforcement, and Official Responses

• On-the-Ground Reporting (06:57–12:12):

  • Highly emotional scenes—children bandaged, traumatized, some without shoes.
  • Minnesota officials and President’s statements referenced.
  • Hospitals (Hennepin County Medical Center, Children’s Hospital) overwhelmed with victims.

• Panel: Liz Collin (Alpha News), James Gagliano (Retired FBI), Brandon Tatum (Former police officer)

  • Minneapolis police stretched thin, force down 40% since 2020.
  • “This has been the darkest 24 hours in Minneapolis history.” – MPD officer, quoted by Liz Collin [12:12].
  • Multiple recent shootings at religious schools in city, but no immediate connection seen.

3. Security and Prevention at Schools

• Armed Protection & School Policies (15:59–22:52):

  • Consensus on the lack of armed response/resource officers at the site.
    • “Where's the good guy with a gun?” – Megyn Kelly [17:33]
  • Calls for more robust, layered security in schools, including retired law enforcement and military presence.

• Barriers to Action:

  • Removal of school resource officers in past years due to political climate post-George Floyd.
  • “Nothing’s going to change. If you don't change after 20 dead first graders, you don’t change.” – Megyn Kelly referencing Sandy Hook [22:52]

4. Debate Over Gun Laws and Societal Factors

• Gun Control vs Security (22:52–29:35):
  • The panel is highly skeptical that further gun laws will be effective (given 400 million guns are in circulation).
  • “The gun is not the problem. The person with the gun is the problem.” – Brandon Tatum [23:49]
  • Minnesota has strict gun laws, but tragedy still occurred.
  • Political decisions in Minneapolis seen as impacting policing and school security.
    • “This really isn't rocket science—if they want to fix this...” – Liz Collin [29:35]

5. Political and Cultural Reactions

• Government and Public Responses (31:40–39:41):
  • Soundbite from Mayor Jacob Fry rejecting “thoughts and prayers” as insufficient [32:39].
  • Panel’s strong pushback against dismissing prayer, citing hypocrisy (officials always have security).
    • “Which will happen quicker—legislation or fortifying the school?” – Brandon Tatum [33:31]
    • “God said in the Bible … action needs to come from you and God will then protect you in the action that you take.” – Brandon Tatum [35:57]
  • Politicians seen as using tragedy to push agendas rather than solve real problems.

6. Mental Health, Red Flags, and Profile of Shooter

• Breakdown of Suspect (55:49–66:08):
  • Shooter: white male, mid-20s, long red hair, history of gender dysphoria (identified as trans), history of disturbing social media, “defend equality” and anti-religious, anti-Trump messages.
  • “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.” – Police spokesperson [55:49]
  • Writings revealed anti-Israel and anti-Trump sentiment, fixation on death, violence, and “where is your God” messaging.
  • Explicit linkage of mental health crisis, possible pharmaceutical involvement, and societal affirmation of certain delusions.
  • “It does matter, but it’s secondary. What appears to have driven this is a sick mind. A very sick mind.” – Megyn Kelly [63:51]

7. Strategies for Prevention and Early Intervention

• Community, Technology, and Reporting (76:13–81:52):
  • Gino Rufaro (Safer Watch): focus on platforms enabling anonymous reporting of threats, tracking behavioral risk factors, and connecting tips to law enforcement and mental health supports.
    • Safer Watch credited with helping to prevent 13 planned school shootings [76:13].
  • “90% of these cases, there are known warning signs that exist. It really comes down to what was reported, who it was reported to, and what actions were taken.” – Gino Rufaro [82:39]
  • Importance of not dismissing “see something, say something” and reporting red-flag behaviors even if it causes social discomfort.

8. School Training and Response Drills

• Effective Training vs. “Check-the-Box” (65:06–71:09):
  • Chad Ayers (Proactive Response Group) criticizes current passive shooting protocols (e.g., hiding under desks) as often counterproductive.
    • “I'm not playing hide-and-seek with a madman.” – Chad Ayers [70:09]
  • Advocacy for empowering teachers, giving options – run, barricade, or actively resist if necessary.

9. Transgender Ideology and Mental Health

• Correlation, Not Causation, and Political Taboo (83:44–87:50):
  • Discussion of several mass shootings involving shooters with gender dysphoria or trans/non-binary identity; panel argues mental health issues must be scrutinized regardless of political pressure.
  • “There’s a system that affirms a delusional set of beliefs … they just want to say affirm, affirm, affirm without addressing possible mental illness.” – Megyn Kelly [83:44]
  • “I'm called a bigot if I say it's mental illness.” – Joe Lores [87:50]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the horror of the shooting:
  “These are kids just back from their summer vacations… they’re literally praying when they were shot.” – Megyn Kelly [00:41]

• On security and political hypocrisy:
  “If [the mayor] went to mass to visit this school, he would have a security detail there. But his thoughts and prayer comment is not backed up with any kind of real tangible actions...” – Brandon Tatum [33:31]

• On mental health and warning signs:
  “Upwards of 88% of these shooters, someone in their home, in the school, in their business knew or suspected they were going to do something like this and didn't report it.” – Chad Ayers [68:18]

• On the futility of new gun laws:
  “We have 400 million guns in the United States… Even if there was a voluntary give-up-your-gun program, there would still be hundreds of millions out there.” – Megyn Kelly [26:38]

• On copycat events and school vulnerability:
  “Unfortunately, these things are often followed by copycat events… if you got called in to advise those venues, what would you tell them?” – Megyn Kelly [39:41]

• On technology and prevention:
  “Safer Watch… It's not just telling a teacher or telling a friend… These come into our platform. They’re documented, recorded. Law enforcement's able to analyze and take action on these.” – Gino Rufaro [76:13]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:21–06:57 — Breaking news: Incident at Annunciation Catholic School, initial reports, eyewitness and resident reactions.
• 06:57–12:12 — Scenes at the school: Hospital updates, children's trauma, police and parent statements.
• 12:12–15:04 — Local journalist Liz Collin: Minneapolis crime wave, resource constraints, personal reflections.
• 15:59–18:15 — School security response debate: Resource officer absence, potential preventive measures.
• 22:52–29:35 — Gun control, mental health, and blame: Policy discussion, political climate in Minnesota.
• 32:39–35:57 — Mayor’s press conference and panel response: 'Thoughts and prayers' controversy.
• 55:49–58:06 — Police press briefing: Chronology of the shooting, weaponry, shooter’s method.
• 63:51–67:17 — Profile of the shooter: Suspect’s background and online activity.
• 68:18–71:09 — Training and victim mentality: Ineffectiveness of passive drills, call for better training.
• 76:13–81:52 — Safer Watch technology: Reporting and prevention systems.
• 83:44–88:34 — Transgender ideology and mass shootings: Controversy, political avoidance, and mental health.
• 98:26–103:09 — Systems and reporting: How to report, using technology for tracking threats.

Conclusions & Final Thoughts

The episode repeatedly returns to the theme that policy inertia and misplaced focus (gun bans, political points) have failed to protect children. Megyn Kelly and guests demand pragmatic, actionable solutions: hardening school security, revitalizing institutional support for those suffering mental health crisis, facilitating more effective reporting of warning signs, and community-funded supplemental security where official efforts fail. The hosts and guests convey deep frustration at perceived political hypocrisy, media focus on gun control, and the cycle of insufficient action after each tragedy.

Megyn Kelly’s closing:
“We have to keep, we have to just do these things without them and they can continue trying to get gun bans passed… But we, we have to make these changes on this, on team Sanity, or we’re gonna see a lot more just like these.” [105:23]

End of Summary