Police confirmed a shooter opened fire during morning mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
The attacker fired a rifle through church windows while carrying a shotgun and a pistol.
Authorities reported two children, aged eight and ten, died in the assault.
Seventeen others suffered injuries before the shooter turned the weapon on himself.
Officials Condemn Brutal Attack
Police chief Brian O’Hara condemned the “cowardice and cruelty” behind the school attack.
Governor Tim Walz called the violence “horrific” and offered prayers for students and teachers.
Children’s Minnesota confirmed five young patients received trauma care after the shooting.
Hennepin Healthcare also treated several wounded victims from the scene.
Federal and Local Response Mobilizes
Police, FBI agents, and emergency teams swarmed the school immediately after reports of gunfire.
President Donald Trump announced he had been briefed and pledged federal monitoring.
Authorities evacuated students and directed families to a designated reunification site near the school.
School Community Shattered
Annunciation Catholic School, founded in 1923, hosted its first-day mass when tragedy struck.
Recent school posts had shown children celebrating, creating art, and enjoying the start of term.
Families now face grief after joy quickly turned into horror.
Violence Spreads Across Minneapolis
The shooting followed three deadly incidents within 24 hours across Minneapolis.
Gunfire outside a high school Tuesday left one dead and six injured.
Hours later, two more people died in separate city shootings.
Hoax shooting calls at multiple U.S. colleges this week compounded fears as the school year began.
