A devastating shooting unfolded Wednesday in Minneapolis when a gunman opened fire on children attending Mass at the Annunciation Church, leaving two pupils dead and 17 others wounded, according to police.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that the attacker, a man in his early twenties, entered the church during a service marking the first week of school and began firing indiscriminately. The church is located beside its affiliated school in south Minneapolis, the largest in Minnesota.
“Two young children, ages eight and 10, were killed where they sat in the pews,” O’Hara revealed. He noted that 17 more people were injured, 14 of them children, with two victims in critical condition.
The assailant, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, later took his own life in the church parking lot.
Governor Tim Walz expressed his grief on X, saying he was “praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.”
Emergency footage showed frantic parents rushing to retrieve their children as law enforcement and medical teams swarmed the scene.
“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” O’Hara stated.
Mayor Jacob Frey also condemned the attack, stressing that “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church. These are kids that should be learning with their friends. They should be playing on the playground. They should be able to go to school or church in peace without the fear or risk of violence.”
President Donald Trump confirmed he had been briefed, adding that the FBI was involved in the response. “The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!” he wrote on Truth Social.
This tragedy adds to the United States’ long history of school shootings, a crisis compounded by the country’s gun culture and political gridlock over firearm regulation.
What you should know
The Minneapolis church shooting claimed the lives of two children and left 17 others injured, highlighting once again America’s struggle with gun violence in schools and public spaces.
The incident has sparked strong emotional reactions from local and national leaders, underlining the urgency of addressing gun-related tragedies.
