Tragic Shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis Leaves Two Children Dead, 17 Injured
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA—A devastating mass shooting unfolded at Annunciation Catholic Church in the Southwest neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday morning, August 27, 2025, during a school-wide Mass attended by students and faculty of the affiliated Annunciation Catholic School. The attack claimed the lives of two children, ages 8 and 10, and injured 17 others, including 14 children and three elderly parishioners. The suspect, who died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, carried out what authorities described as a deliberate act of violence, prompting a massive law enforcement response and leaving the tight-knit community grappling with grief and shock.
The Incident
The shooting occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. CDT, during a morning Mass marking the first week of the academic year at Annunciation Catholic School, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the suspect, dressed in black clothing and armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, all legally purchased, approached the exterior of the church and fired between 50 and 100 rounds through the stained-glass windows, targeting worshippers inside. The two children killed were seated in the pews when they were struck. The 17 injured victims included 14 children, ranging in age from 6 to 15, and three adults in their 80s, all of whom are expected to survive. However, several were in critical condition immediately following the attack.
Witness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the chaos that ensued. One fifth-grader, speaking to Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP, described being just two feet from a stained-glass window when bullets shattered it, striking a friend who required hospitalization. Students and staff reacted swiftly, with children hiding under pews and adults shielding the young worshippers. “Within seconds of this situation beginning, our teachers were heroes,” said Annunciation Catholic School Principal Matthew DeBoer during a press conference. “Children were ducked down. Adults were protecting children. Older children were protecting younger children.”
The suspect barricaded the church doors during the attack, suggesting premeditation, and died in the parking lot from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Initial reports of explosives at the scene were later clarified by authorities, who confirmed the presence of a firework resembling a smoke grenade but no active explosive devices. The Minneapolis Police Department, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), responded swiftly, securing the scene and ensuring no further threat to the community. The city issued an all-clear alert at 10:29 a.m. EST.
Community and Official Response
The shooting, which occurred on the third day of the school year, sent shockwaves through Minneapolis, a city already reeling from a series of violent incidents. This was the second mass shooting in the city within 48 hours, following an attack on August 26 behind Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, where one person was killed and six others were injured. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, visibly emotional during a news conference, called the attack a “horrific tragedy” and emphasized the heroism of the church staff. “These kids were literally praying,” Frey said, urging elected officials to move beyond “thoughts and prayers” and take action to address gun violence. “You cannot put into words the gravity, tragedy, or absolute pain of this situation.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was at the scene, expressed heartbreak, stating, “We often come to these and say these are unspeakable tragedies or there are no words for this. There shouldn’t be words for these kinds of incidents because they should not happen.” Walz, who had spoken with President Donald Trump by phone, noted that flags nationwide would be lowered to half-staff until Sunday in tribute to the victims. President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said he was “fully briefed on the tragic shooting” and called for prayers for those affected.
The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and a potential hate crime targeting Catholics, though Chief O’Hara clarified that a motive has not yet been determined. Investigators are reviewing content reportedly posted by the suspect on YouTube, including a “manifesto” with disturbing writings and a hand-drawn sketch of the church’s interior, which was taken down at the request of law enforcement. Four search warrants are being executed, one at the church and three at residences in the Twin Cities metro area believed to be connected to the suspect.
Victims and Medical Response
The 17 injured victims were transported to local hospitals, including Children’s Minnesota and Hennepin Healthcare, a Level 1 Trauma Center. Hennepin Healthcare treated 11 patients, including nine children and two adults, with six children and one adult initially in critical condition. By Wednesday evening, one child’s condition had improved to non-life-threatening. Children’s Minnesota admitted seven children between the ages of 9 and 16, with four discharged by the afternoon, according to NBC News. M Health Fairview’s Masonic Children’s Hospital reported one child in stable condition, according to MPR News.
Among the survivors, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, Endre Gunter, was shot in the stomach and underwent surgery. His mother, Danielle Gunter, expressed gratitude to a Minneapolis police officer who provided aid and comfort to her son before he was taken to the hospital. “Our son was shot at school today, inside a church praying with his classmates,” she said in a statement to CNN, vowing to help him rebuild his confidence and trust.
Community Impact and Vigils
Annunciation Catholic Church and School, fixtures in the Southwest Minneapolis community for over a century, have long been central to the neighborhood’s identity. The parish held its first Mass in 1922, and the school, opened in 1923 by Dominican Sisters, currently enrolls approximately 370 students. The attack disrupted a tight-knit community known for block parties and annual fairs.
By Wednesday evening, hundreds gathered at Lynnhurst Park for a candlelight vigil organized by gun safety groups Protect Minnesota and Moms Demand Action. Minneapolis City Council members, Mayor Frey, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar were among those who spoke, calling for gun reform. A separate prayer vigil at the Academy of Holy Angels drew community members, including religious leaders, to honor the victims. Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Saint Paul and Minneapolis shared a message from Pope Leo XIV, who expressed “heartfelt condolences” and “spiritual closeness” to those affected.
Broader Context and Calls for Action
The shooting at Annunciation Catholic School is part of a troubling wave of gun violence in Minneapolis, with four deadly shootings reported in the city since Tuesday afternoon. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there have been more than 140 shootings reported in elementary and secondary schools in the United States in 2025. This shooting comes on the heels of three other fatal shootings in the City of Minneapolis over the last 48 hours, and the June assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in a targeted attack in the northern Minneapolis suburbs, highlighting the region’s recent struggles with violence.
Political leaders across the spectrum expressed grief and called for action. Representative Ilhan Omar, whose district includes Minneapolis, described the loss as “unthinkable” and criticized the lack of federal gun reform. Former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton issued statements of condolence, with Biden noting, “No parent should ever have to bury their child.” Meanwhile, some, like Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, argued that the tragedy stemmed from mental health issues rather than guns, sparking debate online.
Moving Forward Annunciation
Annunciation Catholic Church and School issued a statement praising the heroism of staff members who shielded students during the attack and vowed to “rebuild our future filled with hope—together.” The school, which will remain closed pending further notice, plans to release information about resuming classes over the weekend. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to uncover the motive behind this “incomprehensible” act, while the Minneapolis community mourns the loss of two young lives and supports the recovery of the injured.
The tragedy has reignited national conversations about gun violence, school safety, and mental health, with leaders and residents alike calling for solutions to prevent such horrors in the future. For now, Minneapolis holds its children and families close, seeking strength in unity and remembrance.
Written by: Markie Kelly & Will Wight
