Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the tragic news, stating that the shooting occurred during a mass at a local church.
“During the mass, a gunman approached on the outside, on the side of the building and began firing a rifle through the church windows towards the children sitting in the pews at the mass,” Chief O’Hara said in a press statement via NBC.
The two children who lost their lives were 8 and 10 years old. Additionally, two other children are reported to be in critical condition.
On August 27, 2025, a tragic shooting occurred at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a morning Mass attended by students ranging from preschool to eighth grade.
The suspect, a man in his early 20s dressed in black, approached the building and began firing a rifle through the church windows towards the children seated inside.
Two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed, and 17 others were injured, including 14 children. Two of the injured children remain in critical condition. The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.
Per CNN, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the attack as a “deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping,” emphasizing the “sheer cruelty and cowardice” of firing into a church full of children.
The shooting has deeply affected the community, with families and residents expressing shock and grief. Witnesses reported hearing up to 50 shots over several minutes, and parents were seen urgently reuniting with their children in a designated zone.
Authorities are still working to confirm the full extent of the injuries of the survivors, but it is clear that the toll of this senseless act is significant.
The shooter was armed with a shotgun, rifle, and a pistol. O’Hara described the attack as an “incomprehensible” act of cowardice, one that has left the community reeling.
As law enforcement continues to investigate, there are ongoing efforts to locate the shooter and understand the motivations behind the attack.
The community, still in shock, is grappling with the tragic loss of innocent lives, particularly those of the young victims who were attending mass at the time.
This incident is still under investigation, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
