In the wake of a tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, the community is grappling with significant loss. On August 27, two young children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, were killed while attending Mass on the first week of school. The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, injured 18 others, including 15 children. Witnesses report that Westman fired through stained-glass windows, targeting children in pews during a service meant to celebrate the school year’s start.
Authorities are investigating Westman’s motives, sifting through hundreds of pages of writings and social media posts that reveal a disturbing obsession with violence against children and a general hatred for various groups. U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson described the writings as “horrific” and called the attack a targeting of society’s most vulnerable.
As the city mourns, candlelight vigils have filled the streets, with community members gathering to pay their respects and uplift one another. Many embraced in grief, holding signs proclaiming messages of hope and solidarity. Family members of the victims have begun to share their sorrow publicly. Jesse Merkel, Fletcher’s father, referred to the shooter as a “coward,” urging the community to remember his son for the person he was rather than how he died. He implored others to cherish their children more deeply. Similarly, the family of Harper Moyski described her as a joyful and loving child, emphasizing her vibrant spirit and the profound impact she had on those who knew her.
The community remains in a state of shock as they seek to understand the motives behind the tragic shooting and to honor the memories of the lost children.
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