A gunman armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol opened fire through the windows of a Minneapolis Catholic church Wednesday morning, killing two children and injuring 17 people in what the police chief called an “absolutely incomprehensible” act of violence. The shooter later died by suicide.
The attack which unfolded during the first week of school, targeted a group of children attending Mass inside Annunciation Catholic School. The Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) 911 dashboard indicated more than 65 units from various agencies responded to the scene, a residential neighborhood about five miles south of downtown.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the first report of gunfire came in at 8:27 a.m. The shooter, described as a man in his early 20s approached the side of the church and fired dozens of rounds through the windows toward the pews where children were seated. Officers responded and entered the church to provide first aid and rescue students hiding inside the building. The gunman died by suicide at the rear of the church.
The victims, ages 8 and 10 were killed as they sat in the pews. Nine of the injured were children, with some in critical condition. Authorities later established a reunification zone for families and uniformed children could be seen trickling out of the school with their parents, many giving lingering hugs and wiping away tears.
The violence has sent shockwaves through the community, with city officials, state leaders and school staff grappling with the trauma. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized the need for more than just thoughts and prayers, noting that the children were “literally praying” when they were attacked. As students and families try to process the tragedy, the long-term emotional and academic impacts are a significant concern.
