Gunfire erupted Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during morning mass.
The shooter fired a rifle through church windows, also carrying a shotgun and a pistol.
Police confirmed he killed two students, aged eight and ten, and wounded 17 others.
Authorities reported the shooter then killed himself, and residents faced no further threat.
Officials Condemn Attack
Police chief Brian O’Hara called the shooting “sheer cruelty and cowardice” at a press conference.
Governor Tim Walz described the attack as “horrific” and prayed for students and teachers.
Children’s Minnesota admitted five victims, while Hennepin Healthcare treated other injured students.
President Donald Trump said the White House received briefings and would monitor the situation.
Evacuation and Family Response
Police evacuated the school and directed families to a reunification zone on campus.
Annunciation Catholic School, founded in 1923, had been holding first-day-of-term mass.
School social media posts showed children smiling, holding art projects, and enjoying ice pops.
Rising Gun Violence Across Minneapolis
This attack marked the fourth fatal shooting in Minneapolis in less than 24 hours.
Tuesday shootings killed three people and injured six, including one outside a high school.
Authorities also responded to hoax shooting threats at more than a dozen U.S. colleges.
Colleges issued “run, hide, fight” alerts, often including fake gunshot sounds, frightening students nationwide.
