Gunfire at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis killed two pupils and wounded 17 others on Wednesday morning.
Police chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter fired a rifle through church windows during morning mass.
O’Hara confirmed the attacker carried a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol.
The shooter killed himself at the scene, leaving no known motive behind.
Authorities identified the two victims as students aged eight and ten.
Authorities Respond and Families Reunite
Minneapolis police declared the shooter contained and said residents faced no active danger.
Governor Tim Walz condemned the attack, calling it “horrific,” and expressed sympathy for families and teachers.
Children’s Minnesota treated five young patients, while Hennepin Healthcare also admitted victims from the attack.
President Donald Trump said the White House continued to monitor the “tragic shooting.”
Officials evacuated the school and directed families to a reunification site nearby.
School Year Begins in Grief
Annunciation Catholic School, founded in 1923, had just opened its fall term with morning mass.
Recent school posts online showed children celebrating with art, games, and summer projects before the tragedy.
The attack added to a violent 24 hours in Minneapolis that saw four other shooting deaths.
On Tuesday, gunfire outside a high school killed one person and injured six.
Two more shootings claimed two additional lives later that night.
Hoax Threats Add to Tension Nationwide
Wednesday’s tragedy came amid a wave of hoax active-shooter calls across U.S. colleges.
Fake warnings, often paired with gunfire sounds, forced campuses to issue “run, hide, fight” alerts.
The false alarms heightened fear among students returning to class across the country.
