Two Children Killed, 17 Others Hurt in Annunciation School Shooting

A horrifying mass shooting occurred on the morning of Wednesday, August 27, at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.

During a morning Mass attended by students and worshippers, a gunman armed with multiple weapons opened fire from outside, targeting the congregation through the church windows.

Two children—ages 8 and 10—were tragically killed where they sat in the pews, while 17 others were wounded, including 14 children.

Police identified the shooter as a man in his early 20s. He wielded a rifle, shotgun, and pistol during the attack and subsequently died by suicide at the scene, bringing the total death toll to three, including the perpetrator. Authorities are investigating the motive behind this unthinkable act.

The violence took place during what was intended as a sacred school ceremony and marked the first week of classes. Ice-cold bullets shattered stained-glass sanctity. Witnesses reported hearing between 50 to 100 shots.

The immediate response was massive. Emergency services, including the FBI and ATF, descended on the scene. Hospitals such as Hennepin Healthcare and Children’s Minnesota began treating dozens of victims. Among those injured, several were in critical condition; four of the wounded underwent surgery.

Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara condemned the shooter’s actions as “a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping,” calling the attack’s cruelty immeasurable.

Political and community leaders expressed outrage and grief. Mayor Jacob Frey denounced “thoughts and prayers” as inadequate, noting with painful irony, “these kids were literally praying.” Governor Tim Walz and federal legislators echoed the call for concrete action to combat gun violence and protect vulnerable communities.

This devastating incident comes just a day after another shooting at a nearby Catholic high school, making the tragedy part of a troubling surge in violence affecting Minneapolis schools.

As the city and country reel in sorrow, the Minneapolis community must now rally around the grieving families while demanding meaningful measures to prevent such atrocities from ever occurring again.

This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here