Two people are dead. Um, and we know
that 17 injured, 14 of them children,
and two in critical condition. The
gunmen themselves shot themselves in the
back of well at the back of the church.
Not clear whether all the shooting was
from outside the church through a
window, some possibly inside too. But um
a very emotional news conference from
the Democrat mayor of Minne Minneapolis
and the Minneapolis police chief on what
has happened here. And it's just at the
start of the school term, isn't it?
Right across the United States.
>> It is. In many places across the United
States, school just began in the last
several days. Um, so I think this is
something that'll be obviously
horrifying for for parents around the
country, many of whom as recently as
Monday just took their children to
school for the first time.
>> But just stay with us. Just let me bring
in some of what the police chief said.
Uh, Brian O'Hara just a short time ago.
>> Earlier today, just before 8:30 a.m.,
our city experienced an unthinkable
tragedy.
Minneapolis police officers responded to
a report of a shooting at a mass that
was happening at the Annunciation Roman
Catholic Church on the block behind me.
This worship service was marking the
first week of school for children that
are attending the Annunciation Catholic
School.
During the mass, a gunman approached on
the outside on the side of the building
and began firing a rifle through the
church windows towards the children
sitting in the pews at the mass.
Shooting through the windows, he struck
children and worshippers that were
inside the building. The shooter was
armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a
pistol.
This was a deliberate act of violence
against innocent children and other
people worshiping.
The sheer cruelty
and cowardice of firing into a church
full of children is absolutely
incomprehensible.
Police officers from the Minneapolis
Police Department immediately responded
entered the church and attempted to
provide first aid and rescue some of the
children that were hiding throughout the
building while other first responders
came and EMS responded to rush victims
to nearby hospitals.
Two young children, ages eight and 10,
were killed where they sat in the pews.
Their parents have been notified.
17 other people were injured,
14 of them being children.
Two of those children are in critical
condition.
The coward who fired these shots
ultimately took his own life in the rear
of the church.
Our hearts are broken for the families
who have lost their their children.
For these young lives that are now
fighting to recover, and for our entire
community that has been so deeply
traumatized by this senseless attack.
We will stand together to protect our
children, our schools, and our houses of
worship.
This deliberate act of violence
is just an a sign of cruelty that is
beyond comprehension.
Our hearts
our hearts are broken for everyone
that's been affected by this tragedy. As
we begin the difficult path of healing,
I want the community to know this, that
even in the face of such evil, the
Minneapolis Police Department and all of
our law enforcement partners stand with
our community. We stand with these
families and with this parish. We will
continue to be here for you.
Brian O'Hara there, the Minneapolis
Police Chief speaking just a short time
ago.