District 518's Heitkamp writes letter addressing Minneapolis tragedy

District 518 Superintendent Joel Heitkamp wrote a message to district families Wednesday addressing that day's school shooting in Minneapolis. The shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday killed two children and injured 17 people.

Wrote Heitkamp: "We are heartbroken by the news of the violence that occurred this morning at a private school in Minneapolis. Our thoughts are with the students, families and educators of Annunciation Catholic School. We also recognize how difficult it is to hear this news, especially as we have just welcomed students back to school this week. 

"While this tragedy did not take place in our community, we know it may still leave some of us feeling anxious or unsettled," Heitkamp continued. "Please know that the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remain our top priority. We are proud of the strong partnerships we share with local law enforcement and community safety leaders, and we continue to review and reinforce our safety protocols. We are committed to providing every student with a safe, secure and welcoming learning environment. "

Heitkamp added that if any child is struggling to process the news, district counselors and student support teams are ready to assist. 

Police identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted wound. Westman shot “dozens” of rounds from outside the church building through windows and had a rifle, shotgun and a pistol, police said.