Parents of children killed in Annunciation Catholic school shooting speak out

[ad_1] The 2 college students killed within the Annunciation Catholic Faculty mass taking pictures have been an 8-year-old boy who liked to fish and cook dinner and a 10-year-old lady recognized for her laughter and kindness.

Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, died when the shooter opened fireplace by way of the home windows of the Minneapolis college's church on Wednesday morning, their households confirmed Thursday.

Fletcher's father urged dad and mom to "give your youngsters an additional hug" as he remembered his son.

An undated photograph of Fletcher Merkel.

Merkel Household

"Yesterday, a coward determined to take our 8-year-old son, Fletcher, away from us," Jesse Merkel mentioned throughout remarks exterior the college on Thursday, publicly figuring out his son as one of many victims killed within the "mindless act of violence" carried out by a 23-year-old former pupil on the college. "Due to their actions, we'll by no means be allowed to carry him, speak to him, play with him, and watch him develop into the fantastic younger man he was on the trail to turning into."

Jesse Merkel mentioned his son liked his household, associates, fishing, cooking "and any sport that he was allowed to play."

The daddy added, "Whereas the outlet in our hearts and lives won't ever be crammed, I hope that in time, our household can discover therapeutic. I pray that the opposite sufferer's household can discover some semblance of the identical."

An undated photograph of Harper Moyski.

Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin

Harper's dad and mom remembered her as a "shiny, joyful, and deeply liked 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everybody who knew her."

“Our hearts are damaged not solely as dad and mom, but additionally for Harper’s sister, who adored her massive sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss,” her dad and mom, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, mentioned in a press release offered to ABC Minneapolis station KSTP. "As a household, we're shattered, and phrases can't seize the depth of our ache."

Objects together with dolls are positioned at a memorial at Annunciation Catholic Church after Wednesday's college taking pictures, Aug. 28, 2025, in Minneapolis.

Abbie Parr/AP

Eighteen different individuals -- together with 15 youngsters -- have been additionally injured within the taking pictures and are anticipated to outlive, police mentioned.

The victims' households praised the response to the mass taking pictures.

Jesse Merkel mentioned he is heard many tales of the "swift and heroic actions of youngsters and adults alike, from contained in the church," he mentioned. "With out these individuals and their selfless actions, this might have been a tragedy of many magnitudes extra. For these individuals, I am grateful."

Harper's dad and mom mentioned they "additionally grieve for our fellow Annunciation household in mourning and for these damage" and that they're "grateful for the workers and first responders who did a lot for therefore many yesterday."

Jesse Merkel, the daddy of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, speaks exterior Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Aug. 28, 2025.

KSTP

Jesse Merkel requested that individuals give their kids "an additional hug and kiss at this time" and that his son is remembered "for the individual he was, and never the act that ended his life."

Harper's dad and mom mentioned it is necessary that their daughter's reminiscence "fuels motion" whereas imploring for significant change to stop the same tragedy and "work towards a safer, extra compassionate world."

"No household ought to ever should endure this type of ache," they mentioned. "We urge our leaders and communities to take significant steps to deal with gun violence and the psychological well being disaster on this nation. Change is feasible, and it's mandatory -- in order that Harper’s story doesn't grow to be one more in a protracted line of tragedies."

Individuals go to a memorial to yesterday's taking pictures victims in entrance of Annunciation Catholic Church on August 28, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Scott Olson/Getty Pictures

The taking pictures occurred throughout a Mass that marked the primary week of faculty, police mentioned.

The shooter -- recognized as 23-year-old Robin Westman -- died on the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police mentioned. Westman had attended the college, and Westman's mom beforehand labored within the parish, police mentioned.

A motive stays underneath investigation, and police mentioned they've not recognized a particular set off for why the youngsters on the church have been focused.

Investigators decided that Westman "harbored a complete lot of hate in the direction of all kinds of individuals and teams of individuals," and in addition "had a deranged obsession with earlier mass shooters," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara informed ABC Information Stay on Thursday.