A community in Minneapolis is reeling after a gunman opened fire on children praying inside Annunciation Church, killing two and injuring 18 others. Authorities say the attacker, 23-year-old Robin Westman, was “obsessed with the idea of killing children” and appeared to harbor a fascination with previous mass shootings.
The victims, identified as eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and ten-year-old Harper Moyski, were remembered by their grieving families as joyful, kind-hearted children who loved life. Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, described his son as a boy who “loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport he was allowed to play.” Through tears, he urged parents to cherish their children: “Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You’ll always be with us.”
Harper’s parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, issued a heartfelt statement, calling their daughter “a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.” They expressed hope that Harper’s memory would “fuel action” to prevent future tragedies, saying, “Change is possible, and it is necessary — so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies.”
According to investigators, Westman, who previously attended the school and whose mother once worked there, approached the church with three firearms and fired dozens of rounds through the windows. A smoke bomb was also recovered at the scene. Police say the attacker left behind a note filled with hate towards various groups, though officials stressed that a definitive motive may never be known. Westman died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the act as senseless, noting that “the shooter appeared to hate all of us” but was primarily fixated on harming children. He urged media outlets not to glorify the killer’s name, warning of the risks of copycat attacks.
