Police say a lone gunman dressed in black approached Annunciation Church just before 8:30 a.m. and started firing at worshipers through the windows.
MINNEAPOLIS — On Wednesday morning, the Minneapolis Police Department verified that an active shooter attacked a church in the city’s south side, resulting in the deaths of two children and injuring 17 others.
Police say the shooter died by suicide following the rampage, and there is no longer a threat to the community.
Police and paramedics swiftly responded to Annunciation Church at 509 W. 54th Street around 8:30 a.m., where witnesses reported seeing a man dressed in black and carrying a rifle.
During a press briefing later that morning, Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that the shooter, a man in his early 20s, seemed to have blocked the church doors before moving to the side of the building and using a rifle to fire through the windows at children attending a special mass.
Chief O’Hara confirmed that two children, aged 8 and 10, were fatally shot. An additional 17 were wounded, of whom 14 are students, with two in critical condition.
“This was a premeditated attack on defenseless children and others worshiping,” O’Hara said, visibly emotional. “The brutality and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is beyond understanding.”
O’Hara informed the press that the shooter, equipped with a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun, lacked a substantial criminal history. While there were reports that the shooter also possessed improvised explosives, law enforcement did not find any bombs at the location.
The shooter left a vehicle in the church parking lot, O’Hara said, saying it would be searched along with other locations. At this time, investigators believe the gunman was operating alone.
Hennepin Healthcare Hospital confirmed that 11 patients arrived with gunshot wounds, two adults and nine children. Dr. Tom Wyatt said four of the patients from the Annunciation shooting were rushed into surgery. Wyatt did not release details on their conditions.
Children’s Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, confirmed six students were admitted for care.
Neighbor Bill Bienemann told KARE 11 that his daughter went to Annunciation School for nine years. He lives two blocks away from the scene and was shocked when he heard a volley of gunfire that went on for what he estimated was three or four minutes.
“I said, there’s no way that that could be gunfire. There was so much of it. So it was sporadic… it was a semi-automatic, and seemed like a rifle. It certainly didn’t sound like a handgun, and so he must have reloaded, you know, several times for sure.”
Bienemann believes he heard between 30 and 50 shots fired.
Bishop Kevin Kenney, who leads St. Olaf Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis, went directly to Hennepin Healthcare Hospital when he heard about the mass shooting to be a presence for victims and their families. “It was horrific,” Kenney shared about his reaction upon hearing about the shooting. “I grew up in that parish, so it has meaning to me now. But it (violence) shouldn’t be happening. What happened on 8th and Hennepin this morning, Lake Street yesterday, something has got to happen to stop this.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey posted that he is monitoring reports of horrific violence, and said he has confirmed with Police Chief Brian O’Hara that the department’s emergency response team has been activated. He asked residents to give officers the space they need to respond to the developing situation.
Governor Tim Walz posted on social media that he has been briefed about a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, and that agents from the BCA and troopers from the State Patrol are on scene, along with Minneapolis police.
“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” Walz wrote.
KARE 11 has multiple crews at the scene and will have the latest on the situation and victims.
Wednesday’s incident is just the latest in a violent 24 hours in Minneapolis. Three people were shot and killed in three separate shootings Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday morning. At least eight people also suffered gunshot wounds in the incidents.
