A Minneapolis community is reeling after a devastating school shooting claimed the lives of two children and left 17 others injured Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School and Church.
Police say the gunman, a man in his 20s, opened fire from outside the church while children and staff gathered for worship during their first week back at school. Armed with a rifle and dressed in black, he fired through the windows before turning the weapon on himself. Authorities confirmed that the suspect did not have an extensive criminal history.
Among the victims are an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old child who tragically lost their lives. The injured include both adults and children, with victims as young as six years old. Officials say the wounded are being treated at area hospitals, though details about their conditions have not yet been released.
The shooting unfolded just before 8:30 a.m. at the church and school, located on the 500 block of West 54th Street near Lyndale Avenue. Neighbors told reporters they heard rapid bursts of gunfire but initially thought it might have been something else because of how loud and prolonged it sounded.
Law enforcement agencies quickly swarmed the scene, with the FBI, ATF, Homeland Security, Minnesota State Patrol, and Minneapolis police all responding. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also arrived at the site to meet with officials and families as the city confronts yet another act of gun violence.
Annunciation Catholic School serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade. This week marked the beginning of the school year, with children returning to class just two days earlier.
As investigators work to piece together a motive, the focus remains on the victims and their families, who are now facing unimaginable grief. The shooting has shaken the tight-knit south Minneapolis community, and officials say counseling and support services will be made available to students, staff, and families.
Source: Fox 9
