On Wednesday, a domestic violence shooting scene unfolded at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis. This unimaginable tragedy left a dark pall on students’ first day back from summer break. The incident, which is now the fourth shooting in 24 hours across the city, resulted in multiple gunshot victims, including children.
The Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Kristi Noem, is waiting with bated breath. She expressed her concern over the incident, stating, “We are in communication with our interagency partners, and will share more information as soon as it becomes available. I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families.”
US authorities said that a man in tactical clothing, wearing all black and carrying a rifle was present on the campus. The shooter is now deceased. In this case, the Minneapolis Police Department’s response to the active shooter was swift. At the same time, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office took charge of coordinating the overall emergency response.
As of 10:29 AM EST, the city of Minneapolis confirmed via its official X account that there was “no active threat to the community at this time.” They strongly encouraged residents to stay out of the impacted area to save first responders’ ability to work as safely and effectively as possible.
The Children’s Minnesota Hospital has confirmed that five children were subsequently hospitalized from care stemming from the shooting. A spokesperson emphasized their commitment to patient privacy, stating that they “will not share more details to respect the privacy of our patients and families.”
This heartbreaking incident comes on the heels of three different shootings that occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday. Unfortunately, these crashes caused three deaths. As of this morning, reports say at least eight people were shot during these incidents across Minneapolis.
Governor Tim Walz addressed the situation, saying, “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.” He restated the state’s promise to keep the public informed as new information comes online.
In his statement, he said that he has been “fully briefed on the horrific shooting.” He added that “the White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation,” encouraging prayers for everyone affected.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey referred to the incident as an “evolving situation.” In his remarks, McCarthy offered emotional condolences to all of those impacted by Saturday’s violence. “Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this act of violence,” he said.
The shooting at Annunciation Catholic School raises significant concerns about safety in educational environments. As the Columbus community awaits the results of the investigation, which continues into this tragic incident, and what to do in the wake of it, we remain deeply shaken.