A tragic shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis has left two young children and the suspected gunman dead, with 19 others injured, after a lone assailant opened fire during a morning mass on Wednesday.
The shooting occurred at Annunciation Church, where students from the adjoining Annunciation Catholic School had gathered to begin their school day with a religious service.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter, believed to be in their early 20s, positioned themselves outside a church window and began firing into the sanctuary using a rifle. A shotgun and a pistol were also found at the scene — all legally purchased, authorities confirmed.
Among the victims were two children, aged 8 and 10, who died from their injuries. Dozens of terrified parents rushed to the scene, anxiously awaiting updates on their children.
“The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” Chief O’Hara told reporters during a press conference.
Authorities said there was no known connection between the shooter and the school or church community. The identity of the suspect has not yet been released, and a motive remains under investigation.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed deep sorrow, calling the act “evil and horrific.”
“These children were met with evil, horror, and death,” Gov. Walz said. “We often say there are no words for tragedies like this — and truly, there shouldn’t be, because they should never happen.”
Counseling services have been made available to affected families, and security has been heightened at schools and places of worship across the city in the aftermath.
