Annunciation church faculty taking pictures kills youngsters in Minneapolis

A gunman killed two younger youngsters and injured 17 individuals gathered at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis for a service on Wednesday to mark the primary week of the parish’s faculty, police stated.

Fourteen of the injured are youngsters, two of whom are in essential situation, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated at a information convention.

The youngsters who died have been 8 and 10 years outdated, O’Hara stated.

The shooter, who officers later recognized as Robin Westman, is lifeless from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, he stated.

Westman left behind a number of on-line movies referencing violent ideas and suicide, in addition to a sketch of a church’s inside and an apology to their household, senior legislation enforcement officers briefed on the matter informed NBC Information.

The assault occurred simply earlier than 8:30 a.m. native time, as the kids attended the service on the church.

The gunman, armed with a rifle, a pistol and a shotgun, and clad in black cargo-style pants, was positioned on the surface of the constructing and commenced firing by way of home windows towards the kids, who have been sitting in pews.

The shooter, who’s in his 20s and doesn’t have an in depth prison historical past, is believed to have acted alone, O’Hara stated.

The chief stated he was not conscious if the shooter was a former worker or scholar of Annunciation.

“The sheer cruelty and cowardice, the firing right into a church full of kids, is totally incomprehensible,” O’Hara stated.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated: “Do not simply say that is about ideas and prayers proper now. These youngsters have been actually praying!”

“There aren’t any phrases that may seize the horror and the evil of this unspeakable act,” Frey stated.

“Don’t consider these as simply any individual else’s youngsters. These households are struggling immense ache proper now. Consider this as if it have been your personal,” the mayor added.

Victims have been admitted to 2 totally different hospitals. The 9 youngsters being handled at Hennepin Healthcare Hospital are between 6 and 14 years outdated, the hospital stated at a information convention.

Earlier than the shooter was declared contained, Gov. Tim Walz stated that he had been briefed on the taking pictures and that he was “praying for our children and lecturers whose first week of faculty was marred by this horrific act of violence.”

President Donald Trump spoke to Walz after the taking pictures, a White Home official informed NBC.

Trump “referred to as to supply his condolences to the individuals of Minnesota and Governor Walz thanked him for the help,”  a supply conversant in the decision informed NBC.

In a proclamation Wednesday afternoon, Trump ordered that American flags be flown at half mast on the White Home and on all U.S. public grounds and army posts till Sunday at sundown.

Minnesota’s U.S. senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, thanked first responders and expressed grief over the violence.

“It is the primary week of faculty. These youngsters shouldn’t be fearing for his or her lives,” Smith wrote.