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Father of 8-year-old victim in Minneapolis shooting makes emotional statement
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The first of the two children shot and killed in yesterday’s school shooting in Minnesota has been named as Fletcher Merkel, aged 8. His father gave an emotional statement to reporters on Thursday afternoon.
Robin Westman, 23, was identified as the shooter who fired through the stained-glass windows at the church next to Annunciation Catholic School around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, as students were celebrating Mass at the start of the academic year.
In addition to Fletcher, another child aged 10 was killed, while 18 others, including 15 children and three parishioners in their 80s, were injured.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Thursday afternoon that 116 rifle rounds were recovered at the site but that a specific motive has not yet been identified.
However, on a video posted to YouTube, the shooter flips through the pages of a journal written using Cyrillic letters, referred to by authorities as a “manifesto”, and expresses a desire to attack “a large group of kids,” according to an analysis by BBC Verify.
The suspect also expressed a desire to “catch a big assembly on the first day of school,” avoid parents because they could be armed, and have the ability to fire indiscriminately.
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Today's latest developments
Authorities say Robin Westman, 23, carried out a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, killing two children and injuring 18 others, including 15 children.The shooter fired indiscriminately through the church's stained-glass windows, with police recovering 116 rifle rounds, though a specific motive for the attack remains under investigation.A "manifesto" and videos posted by the shooter revealed plans to attack a large group of children on the first day of school, expressing hatred towards various groups and admiration for other mass shooters.Eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel was identified as one of the deceased children, with his father delivering an emotional statement, while the community and lawmakers called for gun control measures.The shooter's videos also contained racist and antisemitic messages, including a death threat against Donald Trump, and police confirmed the firearms used were recently purchased.
Read more
Oliver O'Connell28 August 2025 22:41
3 minutes ago
BREAKING: Second child killed in Minneapolis shooting identified
The second child killed in Wednesday’s shooting in Minneapolis has been identified.
10-year-old Harper Moyski was named in a statement shared today on her parents’ behalf, per CNN.
“Harper was a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her,” the statement from Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin read.
“Our hearts are broken not only as parents, but also for Harper’s sister, who adored her big sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss. As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.”
The statement added: “No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain. We urge our leaders and communities to take meaningful steps to address gun violence and the mental health crisis in this country.
“Change is possible, and it is necessary — so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies.”
Mike Bedigan29 August 2025 00:08
11 minutes ago
‘Predictable and preventable’: Father of Parkland school shooting victim pleads for gun reform after Minnesota
The father of a Parkland school shooting victim has pleaded with President Trump for gun reforms following the Minneapolis shooting on Wednesday.
Manuel Oliver spoke out after a shooter stormed a church in the south side of Minneapolis earlier that day, killing two children and injuring 17, 14 of whom were children.
For Oliver, the scenes of Wednesday’s tragedy were all too familiar, after he lost his son, Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, when a gunman entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018, and killed 17 people.
Madeline Sherratt reports.
Dad of Parkland school shooting victim pleads for gun reform after Minnesota
‘I think that President Trump can do this, and it’s coming from me,’ the father of Parkland shooting victim Joaquin Oliver said
Oliver O'Connell29 August 2025 00:00
31 minutes ago
11-year-old describes moment bullets flew during attack
An 11-year-old Annunciation Catholic School student who was present during Wednesday’s shooting, said she thought the first gunshot was a firework, “like everybody else.”
“The second shot was just everybody just covering their ears,” Chloe Francoual told CNN.
“The third shot was when everybody started ducking low, and all these shots were like slow. Until the fourth shot, it started getting faster and faster, and then that’s when everybody took into action.”
Francoual described how some children had hidden under pews while others had scattered around the church.
She added that she had run into a side room and begun barricading doors with tables and other items, along with several others.
Mike Bedigan28 August 2025 23:40
52 minutes ago
‘Thoughts and prayers are not enough to prevent gun violence’: Democrats push for action
Democratic leaders are calling for the U.S. Congress to do more to tackle school shootings after the deaths of two children in yesterday’s mass shooting in Minnesota.
Nicole Wootton-Cane has the story.
Democratic leaders say thoughts and prayers ‘not enough’ after Minneapolis shooting
Democrats including Elizabeth Warren and Nancy Pelosi have called for urgent reform after two children were killed in Minnesota
Oliver O'Connell28 August 2025 23:20
1 hour ago
Full story: 8-year-old killed in Minnesota church shooting is identified as father gives heartbreaking statement
One of the two young victims of Wednesday’s deadly mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school has been identified as Fletcher Merkel, age 8.
“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us,” his father Jessie said at a press conference on Thursday. “Because of their actions, 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.”
Josh Marcus reports.
8-year-old killed in Minnesota church shooting is identified
8-year-old killed in shooting loved family, fishing, and sports, father said in emotional press conference
Oliver O'Connell28 August 2025 23:00
1 hour ago
Melania Trump calls for ‘pre-emptive intervention’
Melania Trump has called for “pre-emptive intervention” to tackle the early warning signs of potential school shooters after two children were killed at a school in Minneapolis.
In a post on X, the First Lady condemned the “tragic” mass killing and touted the need for “behavioral threat assessments” to identify what she called “warning signs” of would-be killers.
Nicole Wootton-Cane reports.
Melania Trump calls for ‘pre-emptive intervention’ after Minneapolis mass shooting
The First Lady said it was ‘crucial’ to look into ‘behavioral threat assessments’ to identify ‘warning signs’ of mass shooters
Oliver O'Connell28 August 2025 22:45
1 hour ago
Read the full statement given by Jesse Merkel, father of eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel
One of the two young victims of Wednesday’s deadly mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school has been identified as Fletcher Merkel, age 8(The Merkel family)
"Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us. Because of their actions, 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.
“Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking, and any sports he was allowed to play.
“While the whole in our lives will never be filled in hope that in time our family can find healing. I pray that the other victims' families can find some semblance of the same.
“I am hopeful that the wounded are able to make a full recovery and return home to their families, and finally, all the people, especially the children, impacted by this horrific event are able to recover mentally and find the strength to live loving, happy, and full lives.
“Over the past day, I have heard many stories recounting the swift and heroic actions of children and adults alike from inside the church. Without these people and their selfless actions, this could have been a tragedy of many magnitudes more. For these people, I am thankful.
“Moving forward, we ask not for your sympathy but your empathy as our family and the Annunciation community grieve and try to make sense of such a senseless act of violence.
“Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life. Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You'll always be with us."
Oliver O'Connell28 August 2025 22:27
1 hour ago
RFK Jr. uses Minneapolis church shooting to push his latest health initiative
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested without any evidence that antidepressant medication might have played a role in the shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Kennedy, who has long speculated that psychiatric drugs play a role in mass shootings, appeared on Fox and Friends on Thursday.
Eric Garcia reports on what Kennedy said and the furious response from Senator Tina Smith.
RFK Jr. uses Minneapolis church shooting to push his latest health initiative
Minnesota’s junior senator Tina Smith branded Kennedy’s antidepressant comments ‘bulls***’
Oliver O'Connell28 August 2025 22:20
1 hour ago
Eight-year-old victim identified
Fletcher Merkel, 8, has been identified as one of the two children killed in Wednesday’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.
His father, Jesse Merkel, spoke to reporters about the loss of his son.
He said he hopes all of the people, especially the children, impacted by this event are able to recover mentally.
“Yesterday a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us ... Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life. Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You'll always be with us.”
Father of 8-year-old victim in Minneapolis shooting makes emotional statement
Oliver O'Connell28 August 2025 22:14
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