'Symbol of hope.' Boy honored for saving friend during school shooting
'Symbol of hope.' Boy honored for saving friend during school shooting
Thao Nguyen, USA TODAYThu, March 26, 2026 at 2:35 AM UTC
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A boy from Minneapolis received an award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society on Wednesday, March 25, for shielding a classmate with his body during a mass shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church and School last summer, officials said.
Victor Greenawalt was one of six honorees, including five people and a non-profit organization, for this year's National Medal of Honor Day, according to the Medal of Honor Society. The six recipients were recognized with a Citizen Honor Award for their "extraordinary acts of heroism and service within their communities," a news release states.
The Medal of Honor Society named Victor as the 2026 Young Hero Honoree for demonstrating "extraordinary bravery far beyond his years" during the Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting on Aug. 27, 2025. The award honors Americans 17 years old or younger "for their courage in a dire situation," according to the Medal of Honor Society's website.
1 / 0Gunfire erupts at Minneapolis Catholic school. See the scene.
Two children were killed Wednesday and at least 17 people were injured when a gunman fired through the windows of a Minneapolis Catholic church toward young people worshipping at a Mass, authorities said.Families reunite outside the police barricades after a shooting at Annunciation Church, which is also home to a an elementary school, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 27, 2025.
"Instinctively, Victor protected a classmate with his own body, directly saving their life during the attack," the Medal of Honor Society said in the news release. "His courage and selflessness became a powerful symbol of hope and humanity for a community in crisis."
The award was presented by the Medal of Honor Society, a congressionally chartered, non-profit organization comprised of the 64 living Medal of Honor recipients, during a ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.
'Leaped in front of gunfire to protect his friend'
Victor and his sister were injured when a shooter fired through the windows of the Annunciation Catholic Church toward young students worshipping at Mass, according to a GoFundMe page. In a statement on social media, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Victor "leaped in front of gunfire to protect his friend during the tragic mass shooting."
"Victor’s actions saved his friend’s life," Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, of Minnesota, said in a statement on social media. "I am so proud of Victor, but this is just heartbreaking. Our kids shouldn’t have to live this way in America. We must do better for our kids and pass an assault weapons ban."
Weston Halsne, who was 10 and a fifth grader at Annunciation Catholic School at the time of the attack, was sitting two seats away from the stained-glass windows when the bullets began to rain down, he told the local NBC-affiliate KARE 11.
Like the other students around him, Weston dropped to the ground, the television station reported. A friend, who was later identified as Victor, tried to shield Weston and was shot in the back.
"My friend Victor, like, saved me, though, because he laid on top of me, but he got hit," Weston said, calling his friend "brave." He told the station he thought his friend went to the hospital and was doing all right.
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Victor and his family were facing a "long journey of recovery," according to the GoFundMe page. In an Aug. 29, 2025, update, the GoFundMe page stated that Victor had been released from the hospital and was recovering with his family.
"We know that there is still a long road ahead of healing for our family and the community," according to the GoFundMe page. "A sincere and deeply felt thank you from our entire family. We are trying to focus on the light - the incredible stories of people helping each other this week."
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What happened in the Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting?
The deadly shooting occurred at the Church of the Annunciation, a Catholic church that also houses a private elementary school in Minneapolis with about 395 students. The attack occurred just before 8:30 a.m. local time on Aug. 27, 2025, authorities said.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, the shooter approached the outside of the church building and fired inside toward the children sitting in pews. Two children, 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, were killed in the attack.
Police initially reported that 18 other people were injured, including 15 students ages 6 to 18 and three parishioners in their 80s. Police later reported that 24 children and three adults were injured by gunfire, MPR News reported.
Of the injured, police said at least two were critically injured. All the injured had been expected to recover, though family members of some previously said they will have long roads to recovery from serious bullet wounds.
The shooting suspect, identified as Robin Westman, 23, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, according to O'Hara.
Contributing: Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minneapolis boy honored for protecting friend during school shooting
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