5 months ago
President Donald Trump issued a statement on Truth Social following Wednesday's shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
The shooting, which killed two children and injured 17 other people during a morning mass, occurred during the first week of classes. The children who died were 8 and 10. Two of the injured people, which included 14 children, are in critical condition. The suspect took his own life, according to officials.
The president posted on Truth Social, "I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI quickly responded, and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!"
Earlier Wednesday, Gov. Tim Walz called the incident "horrific." The White House said later that Trump and Walz had spoken on the phone about the shooting.
Walz posted on social media that he had been briefed on the situation, writing: "I'm praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence."
What to Know About Wednesday's Annunciation Catholic School shooting
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the gunman — carrying a rifle, shotgun and pistol — approached the side of the church and fired through windows at children seated in the pews during Mass at Annunciation Catholic School. The suspect, described as a man in his early 20s with no significant criminal history, was killed, O'Hara said.
"This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible," said the police chief, who noted that a wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors.
Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine at Hennepin Healthcare, said the Minneapolis trauma center received 11 patients from the shooting — nine children and two adults. None of the patients died, though four required surgeries. The children ranged in age from 6 to 14.
Police, FBI agents, federal officials, and ambulances rushed to the school on Wednesday morning. A staff member answering the phone said students were being evacuated.
Founded in 1923, Annunciation serves between 325–350 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. According to the school's website, an all-school Mass was scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Wednesday. Monday marked the first day of the academic year, with social media posts showing children in green uniforms smiling, greeting one another at bike racks, and posing for photos.
Annunciation Catholic School is located about 5 miles southwest from downtown Minneapolis, in the Windom neighborhood, near the border with Richfield. The campus sits at 509 W. 54th Street, close to Lyndale Avenue South. This area is a primarily residential part of the city, with tree-lined streets, single-family homes, and several other churches and schools nearby.
The attack was part of a string of violence across the city in less than 24 hours. On Tuesday afternoon, one person was killed and six others injured in a shooting outside a Minneapolis high school. Hours later, two more people were killed in separate shootings in the city.
Trump Administration responds to Minneapolis school shooting
Vice President J.D. Vance posted on X, "We're at the WH monitoring the situation in Minneapolis. Join all of us in praying for the victims!"
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X, "Our federal agents are on the scene of the horrific shooting at the Annunciation Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My prayers are with everyone involved in this tragedy. Our team will provide updates as we receive them."
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X, "DHS is monitoring the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. 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."
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X, "We are aware of reports of a shooting at a Catholic school in Minnesota. FBI agents are on scene, and we ask everyone to keep potential victims, civilians or law enforcement in harm's way in your prayers. The @FBI will provide updates as more information becomes available."
Update: 8/27/25, 11:14 a.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Update: 8/27/25, 11:21 a.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
Update: 8/27/25, 11:35 a.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Update: 8/27/25, 12:11 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
Update: 8/27/25, 12:31 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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