A gunman opened fire on a Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a Wednesday morning Mass, killing two children aged eight and 10 and injuring 17 others.
The attack, which occurred at Annunciation Catholic School, targeted children seated in pews.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the incident as a deliberate act of violence.
The shooter, a man in his 20s armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, fired dozens of rounds through the church windows before taking his own life.
The assailant, dressed in black, stood outside the church and shot through the windows, targeting the children inside.
Authorities reported that 14 of the injured were children, with two in critical condition.
A wooden plank was used to barricade some doors, and a smoke bomb was found at the scene, though no explosives were discovered.
Police have not yet determined a motive for the attack, and the suspect, who acted alone, had no significant criminal history.
Children’s Minnesota hospital admitted at least five children for treatment.
The shooting shocked the local community, with nearby resident Bill Bienemann recalling the sporadic gunfire lasting up to four minutes.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed grief, stating, “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.”
President Donald Trump called the event a “terrible situation” on Truth Social.
The tragedy has left the community grappling with the senseless loss of young lives and the trauma inflicted on survivors.