Minneapolis School Attack | Attacker Obsessed With Killing Children, Officials Say
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"Authorities in Minneapolis say the gunman who opened fire at a church school was fixated on killing children"
The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, killed two children and injured 18 others during Wednesday’s attack. Police say there is no clear motive, but Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the attacker “appeared to hate all of us,” adding, “more than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children.”
The victims have been named as Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10.
Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, said his son loved fishing, cooking, sports and spending time with friends and family. “Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life,” he told reporters.
Harper’s parents described their daughter as “a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old” whose laughter and kindness touched everyone around her. They said her younger sister adored her and is now left with “an unimaginable loss.”
Officials say the attacker, who once attended the school, approached the Annunciation Church with three firearms and opened fire through windows while children prayed inside. Police also found a smoke bomb at the scene. Witnesses described children running out of the building, some bleeding and crying for help.
The attacker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators say Westman left notes and writings filled with hate toward multiple groups, including Jewish people, Catholics and former President Donald Trump. The firearms used in the attack were bought legally.
FBI Director Kash Patel called it “an act of domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology.” Authorities also confirmed that the church’s decision to lock its doors before Mass likely prevented more deaths.
Families of the victims and city officials are now urging action on gun laws. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, saying, “We’re not talking about hunting rifles. These are guns designed to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.”
Parents and neighbors say the attack has left children traumatized and afraid to return to school or church. One father said, “Every morning when we drop our kids off, we don’t know if they’ll come back safe. This has become a pattern in America, not a freak accident.”
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