Gunfire erupted Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, killing two students and injuring 17 others.
Officials confirmed the shooter fired during morning mass inside the school’s church.
Police quickly secured the building and declared no continuing threat to residents.
Police Condemn Brutality
Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara described the assault as “sheer cruelty and cowardice.”
He confirmed the shooter carried a rifle, shotgun, and pistol.
The attacker fired through church windows before killing himself.
Authorities identified the victims as two children aged eight and ten.
Investigators have not yet determined a motive.
Leaders React to Violence
Governor Tim Walz denounced the attack as “horrific” and expressed prayers for students and teachers.
Children’s Minnesota hospital admitted five young patients, while Hennepin Healthcare treated additional victims.
President Donald Trump said he received updates and promised federal monitoring of the situation.
Families Reunited After Chaos
Police evacuated the school and directed families to a reunification zone nearby.
The nearly century-old school serves pre-kindergarten through early teens.
Classes had just resumed for the fall term with a morning mass.
Recent school posts showed children celebrating back-to-school events before the tragedy.
Wave of Shootings in the City
The school shooting occurred less than 24 hours after multiple shootings across Minneapolis.
One person died and six suffered injuries in a Tuesday afternoon attack outside another school.
Later that night, two more people were killed in separate incidents.
The violence coincided with nationwide hoax shooting calls that disrupted universities and frightened students.
