Town of Minneapolis is as soon as once more grieving after a horrific mass faculty taking pictures claimed the lives of two younger youngsters and left 17 others injured at Annunciation Catholic Faculty on town’s south facet.
The violence unfolded Wednesday morning throughout a college Mass, shattering what ought to have been a second of worship and group. Authorities say the gunman, a person in his early 20s, approached the church from the skin and opened fireplace with a rifle via the home windows, aiming instantly at youngsters seated within the pews. He was additionally armed with a shotgun and a pistol.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated the taking pictures occurred simply earlier than 8:30 a.m. native time throughout a Mass within the first week of lessons at Annunciation Catholic Faculty, when a shooter standing outdoors fired via church home windows at worshippers.
“This was a deliberate act of violence towards harmless youngsters and different folks worshipping,” O’Hara stated. “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing right into a church full of youngsters is totally incomprehensible.”
After unleashing terror contained in the sanctuary, the gunman reportedly died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the rear of the church.
Two youngsters, ages 8 and 10, had been killed immediately as they sat within the pews. Seventeen different folks had been injured within the hail of gunfire, together with 14 youngsters. Two of the kids stay in important situation.
The varsity was rapidly evacuated, and households had been directed to a reunification zone. Emergency crews rushed victims to close by hospitals. Hennepin Healthcare, town’s principal trauma facility, handled 11 sufferers—9 youngsters and two adults. Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medication, stated 4 of the sufferers required quick surgical procedure. The kids handled ranged from ages 6 to 14.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives confirmed that at the very least one firearm has been recovered from the gunman, with tracing protocols now underway.
The bloodbath is the fifth faculty taking pictures of 2025, in line with NBC Information’ tracker, following comparable incidents in California, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee earlier this yr.
Reactions poured in as the size of the tragedy grew to become clear. Former congresswoman and gun violence prevention advocate Gabby Giffords expressed each heartbreak and outrage on X, writing:
“Children needs to be studying, laughing, making buddies — not operating for his or her lives on the very first week of college. One other group is now traumatized by a mass taking pictures. What number of extra youngsters must dwell this nightmare earlier than our elected leaders do one thing?”
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries known as the taking pictures “horrifying,” stressing, “Weapons of conflict don’t have any place in our neighborhoods, streets or faculties.”
“The taking pictures at Annunciation Catholic Faculty in Minneapolis is horrifying,” Jefferies wrote. “Praying for the kids, households and first responders throughout this second of terror and unimaginable grief. Weapons of conflict don’t have any place in our neighborhoods, streets or faculties.”
Youth-led advocacy group March for Our Lives launched a blistering assertion, noting:
“Gun violence is the main explanation for dying for kids in America. As we speak in Minneapolis, that meant stained glass blown aside by bullets and youngsters slaughtered in church. A mum or dad known as it evil. They’re proper. However let’s be clear: this isn’t simply evil — it’s coverage. It’s the direct results of folks in energy cashing checks from the gun trade whereas our youngsters are murdered. They know youngsters are dying. And so they select it anyway. We won’t dwell in a rustic that executes youngsters in faculties and church buildings. We won’t settle for their cowardice. We demand motion. And we won’t cease till the killing ends.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and President Donald Trump each confirmed that they had spoken on the incident.
Trump, who up to now has confronted criticism for selective outreach after mass shootings in Minnesota, stated in a put up on his social media website Fact Social that he had been totally briefed on the taking pictures and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was on the scene, earlier than noting within the press that the White Home would “proceed to observe the state of affairs carefully.”
“The White Home will proceed to observe this horrible state of affairs. Please be a part of me in praying for everybody concerned!” he stated.
The Minneapolis Police Division stated in a put up on Fb Wednesday morning that the shooter was “contained” and there was “no lively risk to the group right now.”
This can be a creating story.
SEE ALSO:
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Texas Cell Cellphone Ban For Kids In Faculty Raises Security Issues
Minneapolis Faculty Capturing Leaves 2 Kids Useless, 17 Folks Injured
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