Two children were killed and at least 17 others injured Wednesday morning after a gunman opened fire on students and worshippers during Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis. Authorities say the suspect, a man in his 20s, took his own life inside the church.
How the attack unfolded
Police received the first 911 calls at 8:27 a.m. reporting heavy gunfire at Annunciation Catholic School, located near West 54th Street and Lyndale Avenue. Witnesses described hearing dozens of shots, at first mistaking them for construction noise.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the suspect approached the church from outside and fired a rifle through stained-glass windows while children sat in the pews for morning Mass.
- Two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed.
- Seventeen others were injured, 14 of them children.
- Two young victims remain in critical condition.
The suspect, who was armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, eventually moved inside and fatally shot himself in the rear of the church. Police said he had no significant criminal history.
“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and worshippers,” Chief O’Hara said. “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.”
Massive emergency response
Within minutes, more than 65 emergency units from Minneapolis Police, the FBI, ATF, Homeland Security, and Minnesota State Patrol converged on the school. Officers entered the church to administer first aid and guide terrified children out of hiding.
Parents were later allowed to reunite with their children at the scene. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office urged the public to stay away from the area to allow first responders to work.
Community and official reactions
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, speaking at the scene, called the shooting an “unspeakable act.”
“Children and families should be able to go to school and church without fear,” Frey said. “Don’t say this is about thoughts and prayers right now—these kids were literally praying.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the State Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were assisting local authorities. “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” Walz wrote on social media.
President Donald Trump confirmed he had been briefed on the incident, saying the White House would “continue to monitor this terrible situation.”
What we know about the victims
Authorities confirmed two children were killed in the pews. At least five children are being treated at Hennepin County Medical Center, with several others transported to nearby hospitals.
The school, which serves kindergarten through eighth grade, had just begun its academic year Monday. Most students were in Mass when the shooting occurred.
The suspect and possible motive
Police have not released the gunman’s name but confirmed he was in his early 20s, dressed in black, and armed with multiple firearms. His vehicle has been located and is under investigation.
Chief O’Hara said investigators are working to establish a motive, noting there is no immediate threat to the community.
A city in shock
The shooting has devastated the Annunciation parish community and shaken Minneapolis just days into the new school year. Council member Katie Cashman called the violence “absolutely horrifying,” urging residents to check in on loved ones and support one another.
Neighbors described the sound of gunfire as relentless. One resident told FOX 9: “We didn’t even call it in because it didn’t seem real—it sounded like a construction project, not a shooting.”
What comes next
Authorities are expected to release further details later today, including the identities of the victims and the shooter. Both the Minneapolis Police and HCMC are planning press briefings.
Meanwhile, grief counselors and clergy have been mobilized to support families at Annunciation Catholic School as the community grapples with what officials called “one of the darkest mornings in recent memory.”
