Two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed Wednesday morning (Aug. 27) in Minneapolis while sitting in pews during Mass at their school. According to police, another 17 people were injured, including 14 children, when a gunman ambushed worshipers at Annunciation Catholic School on the city’s south side.
At a press conference later Wednesday morning, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said a lone gunman armed with three weapons fired through the windows of the school’s church, striking “children and worshipers” who were inside.
“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping,” said O’Hara. “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.”
The gunman apparently took his own life, according to the police chief. O’Hara told reporters that the male suspect appeared to be in his early 20s and had no significant criminal history. O’Hara said it’s too early to determine a motive—or whether the gunman had any connection to Annunciation.
Ambush at Annunciation Catholic School Occurred During First Week of School
Annunciation Catholic School serves children from preschool through eighth grade, and dozens of students were reportedly inside the church on Wednesday morning. The Mass marked the first week of school.
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Minneapolis-area hospitals are providing updates about the injured children. Four required surgery at one hospital, and two victims are reportedly in critical condition.
While sharing news of the fatalities, O’Hara said, “Our hearts are broken.” He pledged to “stand together to protect our children in our schools and our houses of worship.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also spoke at the press conference, offering condolences to families dealing with the “absolute pain” of this tragedy. “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” he said. “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”
Frey urged community members to support and love the victims’ families. “These families have forever been changed, and we’ve been changed with them,” he said. “This kind of act of evil should never happen, and it happens far too often.”
Police said the suspect might have barricaded some of the church’s doors before shooting through the side of the building. Although initial reports indicated the suspect had improvised explosive devices, Chief O’Hara said authorities have found only a firework resembling a smoke bomb.
Neighbors told reporters they heard dozens of rounds of gunfire coming from the school. “I was shocked,” said Bill Bienemann. “I said there’s no way that that could be gunfire. There was so much of it.” Some residents ran toward the church to help evacuate and comfort students.
At the school’s Facebook page, people are posting prayers and other messages of support. On Aug. 25, Annunciation marked the first day of school with a post that used the hashtag #AFutureFilledwithHope.
