UPDATE: Authorities responded Wednesday morning to a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis. According to police, two children were killed and the shooter is dead.
“There are no words that can capture the horror and the evil of this unspeakable act,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey at a press conference. “Children are dead. There are families that have a deceased child. You cannot put into words the gravity, the tragedy, or the absolute pain of this situation.”
Just after 8:30 a.m., Minneapolis police responded to a call about a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. Police Chief Brian O’Hara said a shooter opened fire on dozens of students and other worshipers who were participating in a morning Mass service to mark the first week of the school year.
The shooter was reportedly outside the church building and fired dozens of rounds into the sanctuary through windows.
Two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed. Another 17 people were injured, 14 of those were children. Two of the injured children were described as being in critical condition. Police said the shooter took his own life.
“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping,” said O’Hara. “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.”
The shooter was reportedly armed with a rifle, pistol, and a shotgun. O’Hara described the gunman as a male in his early 20s who does not appear to have a criminal history. Law enforcement are working to determine a motive and believe the shooter acted alone.
O’Hara also told the press that two side doors to the church building appeared to have been barricaded and police recovered a “smoke bomb” from the scene. Police found a vehicle at the scene used by the shooter.
In remarks outside the school, Frey urged the public to support families affected by the tragedy and noted that a family resource center has been put together. At a separate press briefing, a physician with the Hennepin County Medical Center said several injured victims have received surgery and no other fatalities have occurred.
Annunciation Catholic School serves students from preschool through 8th grade and has operated for more than 100 years. The school is connected with Annunciation Catholic Church in south Minneapolis.
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11:05 a.m.: A large police presence responded to a shooting Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in south Minneapolis.
Police said during a press conference Wednesday morning that two children ages 8 and 10 were killed in the shooting, which took place during a Mass marking the start of school. The gunman fired a rifle through the church windows. Seventeen other people were injured, 14 of them being children. Two of those children are in critical condition. The gunman took his own life.
Multiple sources confirmed the bomb squad responded to the scene after potential explosives were found near doors. The shooter also had multiple weapons, according to the sources.
2/ Sources have also said the active shooter dressed in all black is down at the scene.
— Liz Collin (@lizcollin) August 27, 2025
Gov. Tim Walz said he was briefed on the situation.
“I’ve been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information. The BCA and State Patrol are on scene,” he said.
“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.”
I’ve been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information. The BCA and State Patrol are on scene.
I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) August 27, 2025
President Donald Trump also said he was briefed on the situation and that the FBI is on the scene.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) August 27, 2025
Alpha News is on the scene gathering more information.
The families of children at the school can go to the reunification zone at the Annunciation School (525 W. 54th St.).
— City of Minneapolis (@CityMinneapolis) August 27, 2025
This is a developing story.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
