On an August morning, the halls of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, filled with the promise of a new school year, were shattered by an unthinkable act of violence. On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, a lone gunman unleashed a barrage of gunfire during an all-school Mass, turning a sacred moment of prayer into a scene of unimaginable horror. The attack claimed the lives of two young children, aged 8 and 10, and left 17 others wounded, including 14 children, in what authorities are calling a deliberate and cowardly assault on innocence.

The tragedy unfolded just after 8:15 a.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church, located at 509 W. 54th Street in South Minneapolis, where students from pre-K through eighth grade had gathered for a morning Mass to mark the start of the academic year. The school, a cornerstone of the community since 1923, had welcomed its 430 students back just two days earlier, their smiles captured in joyful social media posts. But those moments of celebration were obliterated when a man in his early 20s, dressed in all black and armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, approached the church from outside and began firing through its stained-glass windows.

The gunfire was relentless, with witnesses reporting dozens of shots—perhaps as many as 50—ringing out over several minutes. “He just pepper-sprayed through the windows into the building,” a parent in the back pew told reporters, his voice trembling with shock. “This is terrible. This is evil.” The bullets tore through the sanctuary, striking children and worshippers seated in the pews. The scene inside was one of chaos and terror as students dove under pews for cover, some watching in horror as their friends were hit.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, his voice heavy with grief, described the attack as a “deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping.” He confirmed that two children, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, were killed in the pews, their lives cut short in a place meant for peace and reflection. Of the 17 injured, 14 are children, with two in critical condition. The sheer cruelty of the act, O’Hara said, was “incomprehensible.”

The gunman, whose identity has not yet been released, is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound behind the church. Police found no evidence of explosives, though a smoke bomb was discovered at the scene. Authorities believe the shooter acted alone and are working tirelessly to uncover a motive. “We don’t yet know if he had any connection to the school,” O’Hara said, noting that the suspect had no extensive criminal history.

As news of the shooting broke, a massive response from local, state, and federal law enforcement descended on the area. SWAT teams, FBI agents, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives swarmed the school, securing the perimeter as ambulances rushed to transport the wounded. Children’s Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, confirmed it was treating five children, while Hennepin Healthcare, home to the state’s largest emergency department, also received victims. Medical staff worked frantically under mass casualty protocols, grappling with injuries described as severe and traumatic.

Outside the school, heart-wrenching scenes unfolded as parents raced to a reunification zone at 525 W. 54th Street, desperate for news of their children. Some were reunited with their loved ones, sharing tearful embraces, while others waited in agonizing uncertainty. Uniformed children in dark green shirts and dresses trickled out, clinging to adults, their faces etched with fear. “These kids were literally praying,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said at a press conference, his voice breaking. “Think of them as if they were your own. This is not about thoughts and prayers right now.”

The tragedy sent shockwaves far beyond Minneapolis. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, briefed on the incident, called it a “horrific act of violence” that marred the first week of school. “I’m praying for our kids and teachers,” he wrote on X, pledging the full support of the Minnesota State Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar shared a personal connection, revealing that the daughter of one of her staffers witnessed the shooting. “She had to watch her friends get shot,” Klobuchar said, her voice heavy with sorrow. Senator Tina Smith echoed the sentiment, writing, “These kids should not be fearing for their lives.”

President Donald Trump, posting on Truth Social, said he had been “fully briefed on the tragic shooting” and urged the nation to pray for those affected. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also expressed condolences, noting that federal agents were on the scene to assist.

The shooting at Annunciation comes amid a wave of gun violence in Minneapolis, with three other deadly shootings reported in the city in the past 24 hours. Just the day before, a shooting outside a high school left one dead and six injured, followed by two additional fatalities in separate incidents. “The level of gun violence across the city is deeply unsettling,” the Minneapolis Police Department said in a statement.

As the community grapples with this profound loss, residents are already mobilizing to support the victims. Vigils are being planned, and blood drives are underway to aid those in need. Bill Bienemann, a longtime churchgoer who lives blocks from Annunciation, described hearing the gunfire from his home. “I was shocked,” he said. “There was so much of it.” His daughter Alexandra, a former student, was overcome with grief. “It breaks my heart, makes me sick to my stomach,” she said, her voice trembling.

The investigation continues, with authorities combing through evidence to understand what drove this act of unimaginable cruelty. For now, the Annunciation Catholic School community, and all of Minneapolis, mourns the loss of two young lives and prays for the recovery of the wounded. In a city shaken by violence, the scars of this day will linger, a stark reminder of the fragility of safety and the enduring power of community in the face of tragedy.