Minneapolis awoke to horror on Wednesday morning as a gunman stormed the Annunciation Catholic Church, targeting children during a school mass.
The attack left three people dead, including two young students, and many others injured in what authorities are calling a “deliberate act of violence.”
Shooter Opens Fire on Children
Police report that the gunman, dressed in black and armed with a shotgun, rifle, and pistol, fired into the church through stained glass windows.
The victims included children as young as six, with two students, aged 8 and 10, tragically killed while sitting in the pews.
At least 16 other children, aged six to fourteen, were rushed to nearby hospitals with injuries.
Authorities Confirm Shooter Took His Own Life
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that the suspect, believed to be in his early 20s with no known criminal history, died by suicide at the rear of the church.
“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping,” O’Hara said, calling the attack “absolutely incomprehensible.”
Injured Students and Community Response
Among the survivors, one little boy told his father, “I don’t feel safe,” reflecting the deep trauma endured by the students.
Seventh-grade students witnessed friends being shot and had to take cover under the pews, according to Senator Amy Klobuchar.
Hospitals, including Children’s Minnesota, confirmed they are treating multiple injured children.
Eyewitness Accounts Paint a Grim Scene
Neighbors described seeing children leaving the church, some bloody and crying, while trying to make sense of the chaos.
Some initially thought the gunfire came from nearby construction.
Parents and local residents expressed shock and grief over the attack, describing it as “evil” and “unthinkable.”
Officials and Leaders Respond
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed the deaths of children and urged the public to give space for emergency responders.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Senator Tina Smith, and Senator Amy Klobuchar expressed heartbreak and solidarity with the victims and their families.
ATF agents and local law enforcement were on the scene, securing the area and investigating the incident.
A Community in Shock
The shooting at Annunciation Church is part of a disturbing wave of violence in Minneapolis over the past 24 hours, including other shootings that left additional victims injured.
For now, the community is left to mourn, process the trauma, and support the families affected by this devastating attack during what should have been the first week of school.
