A gunman killed himself after he fired into a Minneapolis catholic school’s church and killed at least two children aged eight and 10.
The still-unidentified shooter shot through stained glass windows as he unleashed the attack at Annunciation Catholic School’s church at about 8.30am local time.
Police said he was in his early 20s and has no known criminal history.
He was armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol – and fired all three weapons, police said.
At least 17 people are believed to have been injured in the tragic incident; two hospitals saying they are treating a total of 16 children, with two in critical condition.
It’s unclear if the shooter went inside the church or conducted the entire massacre from outside the building.
‘The coward who fired these shots ultimately took his own life in the rear of the church,’ said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
The school teaches students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
The shooter reloaded the gun several times during the mass casualty event, according to preliminary reports.
A gunman is dead after he stormed the Annunciation Catholic School’s Church and killed at least two children
Parents await news of their children after a reported mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School church
The shooter, who remains unidentified, stormed the school’s church Wednesday morning. The church is pictured in 2017
Harrowing images showed terrified parents outside the church as they waited for news of their children
They fired ’50 to 100 shots’ as students and staff were sat in pews and ‘killed two kids,’ a heartbroken parent who attended the mass told The Star Tribune.
The students at the Catholic grade school has started school on Monday and were attending mass when the shooter stormed the church, which is connected to the school.
Senator Amy Klobuchar told MSNBC a seven-year-old watched as the gunman shot her friends in the back and neck.
‘These kids are doing an all-school Mass and had to watch several of her friends get shot — one in the back, one in the neck,” Klobuchar said. ‘And they all got down under the pews.’
The City of Minneapolis said there is no active threat to the community and the shooter at Annunciation Church had been contained.
‘There is an active police situation at Annunciation Church, 509 W. 54th St. There is no active threat to the community at this time. The shooter is contained,’ the city said on X.
‘Stay away from the area to allow emergency personnel to help victims – W. 54th Street between Lyndale and Nicollet Ave.’
Harrowing images showed terrified parents outside the church as they waited for news of their children.
President Donald Trump has been ‘fully briefed on the tragic shooting’ and says the White House will ‘continue to monitor this terrible situation’.
A state trooper embraced someone in a hug at the scene of the shooting Wednesday morning
Children were being escorted out of the school and church by their parents
Governor Tim Walz added: ‘I’ve been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information.’
‘The BCA and State Patrol are on scene. I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.’
‘I’m monitoring reports of horrific violence in South Minneapolis. I’m in touch with Chief O’Hara and our emergency response team has been activated,’ Mayor Jacob Frey said.
‘We will share more information as soon as we can. Please give our officers the space they need to respond to the situation.’
Seven people were shot, one fatally, in a separate mass shooting near a Catholic high school in south Minneapolis yesterday reported Kare11.
Police said the suspect, who escaped in a vehicle and does not appear to have been arrested since, fired around 30 rounds from a high-velocity .223 rifle.
Authorities have not confirmed any connection between the shootings.
