By Eniola Amadu
A gunman dressed in black opened fire on students attending Mass at a Minneapolis Catholic school on Wednesday, killing two children and injuring 17 others before taking his own life.
The attacker, identified only as a man in his early 20s, opened fire through the church windows during the service at Annunciation Catholic School, a private elementary school linked to a Roman Catholic parish in a residential neighborhood.
He was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun, officials confirmed.
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“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other worshippers. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said.
The incident happened just two days after the school resumed classes for the new academic year.
Authorities said the shooter did not have an extensive criminal record. His name has not been released, and investigators are still working to determine a motive.
Law enforcement is reviewing multiple online videos that may have been posted by the suspect, according to two sources who requested anonymity.
Hospitals reported treating 15 children and two adults, many with gunshot wounds.
However, the attack has reignited debate over gun laws and school safety in the United States, where school shootings remain a persistent crisis.
More than 140 incidents have occurred so far this year, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.
“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at an emotional news conference.
President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the attack and confirmed that the FBI was assisting at the scene. “Please join me in praying for everyone involved!” he wrote on social media.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the department is monitoring the situation in coordination with local authorities.
Meanwhile, officials revealed the attack is not linked to three other shootings in Minneapolis since Tuesday, including one at a Jesuit high school, which collectively left three dead and seven wounded.
