Crime
13-Year-Old Endre Gunter Identified as First Surviving Victim of Minneapolis School Shooting, Recovering After Surgery
MINNEAPOLIS — The first surviving victim of Wednesday’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church has been publicly identified, and his family says he is now out of surgery and recovering.
Thirteen-year-old Endre Gunter was among the 17 people injured when 23-year-old Robin Westman opened fire inside the church during a back-to-school Mass shortly after 8:30 a.m., according to police.
Westman, who identified as a transgender woman, fired multiple rounds through the stained-glass windows into the congregation, which was filled with children and parishioners.
Endre’s mother, Danielle Gunter, said her son was struck in the stomach during the attack and was rushed into surgery. “Our son was shot at school today, inside a church praying with his classmates,” she said in a statement, adding that he is now in recovery.
Danielle expressed deep gratitude to the Minneapolis police officer who immediately came to her son’s aid. “The officer rendered aid, hugged him, reassured him, and prayed with him before getting into the ambulance,” she said, calling the officer’s actions heroic.
The family said they are now focused on helping Endre heal physically and emotionally, working to “rebuild his life, his trust, and his confidence.”
Authorities confirmed that two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed in the shooting. In total, 17 people were injured, including 14 children between the ages of 6 and 15 and three elderly parishioners in their 80s, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported.
All injured victims are expected to survive.
Westman was later found dead inside the church from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation into the attack remains ongoing, as the community continues to mourn the loss of two young lives while rallying around the survivors.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.