Minneapolis school shooting: Two children killed, 18 injured

A community in Minneapolis is reeling after a church school shooting that claimed the lives of two children and left 18 others injured, with investigators saying the attacker was driven by an obsession with killing children.

Authorities revealed that the suspect, identified as Robin Westman, 23, appeared to harbour hatred towards multiple groups but had no clear motive.

Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters on Thursday that the attacker "appeared to hate all of us" but was primarily focused on harming children.

"More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children," he said. Westman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after firing dozens of rounds through the windows of Annunciation Church, which also houses a school, using three firearms.

The children who lost their lives have been named by their families as eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and ten-year-old Harper Moyski.

Their families gave emotional tributes as they mourned. Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, said: "Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us.

We will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming." He added, "Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life."

Harper’s parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, described their daughter as "a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her".

They said her younger sister "adored her big sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss".

Their statement continued: "As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain. No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain.... Change is possible, and it is necessary - so that Harper's story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies."

Officials said the attack took place as children prayed inside the church, with witnesses describing chaotic scenes as children ran out bleeding and crying for help.

Patrick Scallen, who lives nearby, recalled seeing three children fleeing. "She kept saying, 'please hold my hand, don't leave me', and I said I wasn't going anywhere."

Another parent, Vincent Francoual, whose 11-year-old daughter survived, said it was "sick" that children in America are trained to prepare for mass shootings. "Here it's a pattern. It's no longer a freak accident," he said, adding that his daughter is now afraid to return to school or church.

Acting US Attorney General for Minnesota Joseph Thompson said the attacker "expressed hate towards many groups, including the Jewish community and towards President Trump".

He described the writings left behind as "horrific and vile" and refused to repeat them.

FBI Director Kash Patel called the shooting "an act of domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology", saying investigators found anti-Catholic and antisemitic messages on the weapons, along with threats against Trump.

Authorities confirmed that Westman had previously attended the school and that her mother once worked there. Police have searched three properties linked to the attacker but say no mental health history or government watchlists had flagged her.

The firearms used were legally purchased, and officials believe the church’s decision to lock its doors before Mass likely saved many lives.

Chief O’Hara urged media not to focus on the attacker’s identity, saying: "The purpose of the shooter's actions was to obtain notoriety." He added that she had a "deranged fascination with previous mass shootings", warning that such crimes often inspire copycat killers.

The attack has reignited calls for tougher gun laws. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said: "There is no reason that someone should be able to reel off 30 shots before they even have to reload. We're not talking about your father's hunting rifle here. We're talking about guns that are built to pierce armour and kill people."

He joined other lawmakers in urging a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.