MINNEAPOLIS – The mother of a 10-year-old girl who lost her life in a mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis reflected on her daughter as a vibrant, inquisitive, and humorous child who “never diluted herself.”
Gathering at an outdoor amphitheater near a lake, friends, family, and others honored Harper Moyski’s life. Speakers urged people to commit to creating a less violent American society.
Harper, along with 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, another Annunciation Catholic School student, were victims in the shooting on August 27, which left 21 others injured. Authorities reported that Robin Westman, a 23-year-old former student, used a rifle, pistol, and shotgun to fire over a hundred rounds through the church windows during Mass, later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.
Harper’s mother, Jackie Flavin, shared with the attendees that their support felt like a lifeline for the family in what seemed like a deep ocean where darkness and overwhelming pressure loomed. She spoke of Harper’s love for dogs and her dream of becoming a veterinarian, describing her daughter as a “light in the dark.”
“She had her individual perspective, her own fashion sense, and unique presence. She didn’t ask for permission. She never diluted herself,” Flavin remarked. “She truly taught us the importance of being authentically yourself.”
Flavin also called Harper “extra in the very best way.”
“Harper didn’t do anything halfway,” she said. “Always choosing the premium versions, always going for the extra scoop.”
The gathering in Minneapolis followed just four days after conservative activist and leader Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. During the commemoration of Harper’s life, speakers voiced their frustration and anger over ongoing gun violence, especially incidents affecting schoolchildren.
Another extended family member, Rabbi Jason Rodich, urged people to avoid the acrimony of social media and “the scorched earth of these times.”
“Turn just a little to the warm soul beside you,” he said. “Do it for Harper. Do it for you.”
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