Crime
Annunciation Catholic Church School Shooting Victims Identified as Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski
MINNEAPOLIS — The families of two young children killed in Wednesday’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School have spoken publicly for the first time, identifying the victims as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski.
Both families released deeply moving statements on Thursday afternoon, asking for privacy as they grieve and urging the community to remember their children for the lives they lived rather than the tragic way they were taken.
Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, delivered the family’s remarks, remembering his son as a bright, energetic boy with a love for sports, fishing, cooking, and time spent with family and friends.
“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son, Fletcher, away from us,” Merkel said. “Because of their actions, we will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming.”
He went on to acknowledge the other victims, the swift actions of children and adults inside the church, and the support of first responders. He urged the public to show empathy as his family and community attempt to make sense of the violence.
“Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life,” he said. “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 joint statement describing their daughter as a vibrant and compassionate child whose kindness left a lasting mark on everyone she met.
“We are devastated to share that our beloved daughter, Harper Moyski, was tragically killed in the recent school shooting,” the statement read. “Harper was a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.”
The family emphasized the profound loss felt not only by them, but also by Harper’s younger sister, who adored her and is now navigating grief beyond her years.
“As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain,” the statement continued. “No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain. We urge our leaders and communities to take meaningful steps to address gun violence and the mental health crisis in this country. Change is possible, and it is necessary — so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies.”
The family also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, while requesting space to grieve and to support Harper’s sister privately.
Authorities confirmed that in addition to Fletcher and Harper, 18 people were wounded in the attack, including 15 children between the ages of 6 and 15 and three adults in their 80s.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported that all of the children are expected to survive, though several remain in critical condition.
At Hennepin Healthcare, CEO Thomas Klemond described one child’s condition as “touch and go” on Thursday morning, underscoring the gravity of the injuries suffered.
The shooting has drawn responses from across Minnesota, the nation, and the world. Vigils have been held throughout the Twin Cities metro, and a moment of silence was observed during Wednesday night’s Minnesota Twins game in Toronto.
Both President Trump and Governor Tim Walz have ordered flags in Minnesota and across the country to be flown at half-staff through the end of the month in honor of the victims.
Community groups, faith leaders, and advocacy organizations continue to mobilize support for the families and survivors, with calls for both healing and meaningful action to prevent future tragedies.
Crime
Mustapha Kharbouch Now-Deleted 2024 Manifesto Published in Institute for Palestine Studies Recovered
Brown University has removed multiple online references to student activist Mustapha Kharbouch in the days following a deadly campus shooting, a move that has drawn public attention amid heightened online speculation—despite law enforcement officials confirming that no suspects or persons of interest have been identified in the investigation.
Archived versions of Brown University webpages show that Kharbouch, a first-year student at the time, was previously listed in several university-affiliated roles, including as a student assistant and Cultural Programming Coordinator connected to the Global Brown Center.
His academic interests were described as focusing on International and Public Affairs and Anthropology, with involvement in Middle East–focused academic, cultural, and student programming.
Those pages are no longer accessible, and Kharbouch’s social media accounts have also been deactivated.
A verified buyer from the United States with the name “Mustapha K.” reviewed a 9MM muzzle brake through the Wing Tactical website on December 29th, 2024 — the same caliber used in the Brown shooting.
There are approximately a few hundred people in the entire United States with that first name + last initial combination.
University officials have not issued a public explanation for the removal of the online profiles.
The changes occurred as online speculation intensified in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, with social media users circulating screenshots of archived university pages and past writings associated with Kharbouch.
Among the materials resurfaced by online users was a 2024 essay authored by Kharbouch and published by the Institute for Palestine Studies as part of a special student essay series titled Genocide in Gaza: Student Essays — Brown University Encampment 2024.
The essay, titled “I Hear the Voice of My Ancestors Calling: From the Camps to the Campus,” was published on August 13, 2024, months before the shooting. The piece is a first-person reflective essay examining Palestinian identity, intergenerational memory, student activism, and questions of hope amid displacement, war, and protest.
The article includes poetic excerpts adapted from “Ancestors Song,” a chant popularized during student-led Palestine solidarity actions at Brown University, and documents Kharbouch’s participation in campus organizing efforts, including sit-ins, hunger strikes, rallies, and the Brown Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
The essay situates these experiences within a broader discussion of decolonial thought, feminist theory, and Palestinian history, including reflections on the 1948 Nakba and the author’s family history as a third-generation stateless Palestinian refugee raised in Lebanon.
The content of the essay is ideological, autobiographical, and academic in nature.
There is no reference to violence on campus, nor any indication of intent or planning related to criminal activity.
The Institute for Palestine Studies has not issued any statement suggesting the piece is under review or connected to the shooting.
Despite widespread online conjecture, law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Providence Police, have not named Mustapha Kharbouch as a suspect or person of interest, and have publicly stated that there is no evidence linking him to the shooting.
Investigators have emphasized that the case remains active and that conclusions are being guided strictly by verified evidence.
Authorities have cautioned against drawing inferences from online speculation, warning that unsubstantiated claims can compromise investigations and cause undue harm to individuals not implicated by facts.
Media analysts and campus observers have suggested that Brown University’s decision to remove online references may have been taken as a protective or precautionary measure, particularly as misinformation and harassment proliferated across social media platforms following the attack.
Similar actions have been taken by institutions in other high-profile incidents to limit doxxing, targeted harassment, or the misinterpretation of publicly available biographical information during periods of heightened tension.
Brown University has not confirmed whether the removals were temporary, administrative, or safety-related in nature.
Authorities continue to urge the public to rely on confirmed information released by law enforcement and to avoid amplifying unverified narratives.
As of the most recent update, no arrests have been announced, no individuals have been publicly identified as suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with credible information related to the shooting has been asked to contact investigators directly.