MINNEAPOLIS — Authorities have identified one of the two children killed in Wednesday’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, describing the event as one of the darkest days in the city’s history.

The victims were an 8-year-old boy and a 10-year-old child. On Thursday evening, officials confirmed the 8-year-old victim as Fletcher Merkel.

The 10-year-old has not yet been publicly identified.

Outside Annunciation Church, Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, delivered a moving statement on behalf of the family.

“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son, Fletcher, away from us,” he said. “Because of their actions, we will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, or watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was becoming. Fletcher loved his family, his friends, fishing, cooking, and every sport he could play.”

Merkel went on to thank the many children and adults who acted heroically during the attack, noting that their quick actions prevented even greater loss of life.

He concluded with a plea for empathy rather than sympathy, asking the community to remember Fletcher for the joyful child he was rather than for the tragedy that ended his life.

Police say the gunman, 23-year-old Robin Westman, a former student at Annunciation, opened fire during morning Mass at approximately 8:27 a.m. Wednesday.

Westman, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol—all purchased legally—fired more than 100 rounds into the sanctuary, striking children as young as six. Investigators later recovered 116 rifle casings and three shotgun shells from the scene.

Authorities said Westman blocked some doors with wooden planks in an apparent effort to trap victims inside. Chief Brian O’Hara noted that the church’s policy of locking doors after Mass began likely prevented even greater casualties.

By 8:31 a.m., a Minneapolis police officer arrived and rushed into the church without tactical gear. Parishioners later told officials his arrival was the first moment they believed survival was possible.

The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside the church.

In total, 18 people were injured, including 15 children between the ages of 6 and 15 and three elderly parishioners in their 80s. Two children, Fletcher and another yet-unidentified 10-year-old, were killed.

Hospitals across Minneapolis continue to care for survivors:

• Children’s Minnesota reported treating seven pediatric patients, three of whom remain hospitalized in serious or critical condition.
• Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) confirmed it has treated nine victims, including five children. One child remains in critical condition.

Among those wounded is 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, a parishioner at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, who underwent emergency surgery and remains in critical condition.

Doctors and first responders have shared accounts of extraordinary bravery, including a child who shielded another from a shotgun blast and a nurse manager who climbed inside a CT scanner to comfort a terrified child.

The FBI is treating the shooting as both an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime. FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators recovered writings, firearms with hateful inscriptions, and a manifesto that included anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic language. Patel described the shooting as a “barbaric attack” motivated by “pure, indiscriminate hate.”

Authorities also confirmed that Westman admired and studied previous mass shooters, seeking notoriety through the attack. Chief O’Hara urged media outlets to stop repeating the suspect’s name, saying, “That was the whole purpose of why he did this act.”

Court records show Westman legally changed their name from Robert to Robin in 2020 with the support of their mother, Mary Grace Westman, a longtime parish employee. Investigators are seeking to speak with her, though she has not yet cooperated.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced an immediate increase in security for schools and houses of worship across the Twin Cities. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for unity, warning against scapegoating vulnerable communities.

“Anybody using this as an opportunity to vilify our trans community—or any community—has lost their sense of humanity,” Frey said. “This needs to be about the kids. Kids died today.”

Chief O’Hara acknowledged the community’s deep grief, calling the massacre “an unthinkable and senseless act of violence against children worshipping at Mass.”

As the investigation continues, federal and local officials pledged to leave “no stone unturned” in uncovering Westman’s motives and preventing future attacks.