By Sachin Shankar Yadav 
A tragic shooting occurred at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during a morning Mass during the first week of classes, leaving at least two children dead and seventeen injured.
Families and students were inside the church for the yearly all-school Mass, which is a custom to begin the year, when the shooting occurred on Wednesday morning. Children were sitting in prayer in the pews when the gunman, who was described as being in his early twenties, entered the building and fired a rifle through stained glass windows. According to police, the majority of the gunfire—dozens of rounds—came from outside the church, and he was also carrying a shotgun and a pistol.
Two kids, ages eight and ten, were shot dead in their pews. Two of the 17 injured—14 of whom were children—remain in critical condition, and several more need surgery at nearby hospitals. Families were redirected to a designated reunification zone as part of emergency protocols. Authorities confirmed that there was no continuing threat to the community after the shooter committed suicide behind the church.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara expressed horror at the targeting of a church full of children worshiping and denounced the shooting as a willful act of violence against children. Although a smoke bomb was found at the scene, no explosives were discovered. Investigators are looking for a motive, but the shooter is thought to have acted alone. They are currently noting that he had no significant criminal history or ties to the school.
The attack’s brutality infuriated the mayor and other local authorities, who emphasized the need for community support and mourning for the young victims. To help students, employees, and families affected by the violence, churches, trauma hospitals, and mental health professionals mobilized.
The tragedy happened during the first week of classes at the Catholic School, which educates children from pre-K through eighth grade. The incident rocked the neighborhood, leading to memorial services and a resurgence of calls for action against school gun violence.