Tragedy struck Minneapolis on Wednesday morning when a gunman opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School during a back-to-school Mass, killing at least two children and injuring 17 others, most of them students.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the shooter a man in his early 20s dressed in black and armed with multiple weapons began firing from outside the church sanctuary just before 8:30 a.m.
The suspect shot through the stained-glass windows directly into pews filled with children and worshippers.
“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and people praying,” O’Hara said at a news conference. “The sheer cruelty of firing into a church full of children is beyond comprehension.”
Victims and Response
Authorities confirmed that the victims killed were an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old child.
Fourteen of the 17 injured are children, with at least two in critical condition.
Nine of the victims are currently being treated at Hennepin Healthcare, where several required emergency surgery.
Witnesses reported chaos as terrified children fled the building, while parents rushed to the reunification center set up inside the school.
“Children are dead, and families are grieving. You cannot put into words the gravity or pain of this tragedy,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, urging the community to support the affected families.
Shooter Dead, Motive Under Investigation
Police confirmed the gunman acted alone and later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, all of which he used during the assault. While rumors of explosives circulated, authorities said no bombs were found at the scene.
The suspect’s motive remains unclear. Officials revealed he had no extensive criminal record, and investigators are now working to determine whether the attack was planned or linked to broader threats.
National and Local Reactions
The shooting, which occurred during the first week of school, has drawn shock and condemnation across the U.S. President Donald Trump said he had been fully briefed on the tragedy, noting that the FBI was on the ground assisting local law enforcement.
“This community is broken right now,” Mayor Frey added. “These kids were literally praying when the shooting happened. Thoughts and prayers are not enough we must do more.”
Annunciation Catholic School, which serves preschool through 8th grade, has suspended all classes as investigators continue to examine the scene.