A Minneapolis community is mourning after two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed inside Annunciation Catholic Church. The tragedy unfolded when a former student opened fire during a school Mass, leaving families shattered.
Jesse Merkel, father of 8-year-old Fletcher, shared heartbreaking words: “We will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, or watch him grow.” Fletcher was remembered as a joyful boy who loved sports, fishing, and cooking with family.
Harper Moyski, 10, was described by her parents as “a bright, joyful, deeply loved child whose laughter touched everyone.” Her younger sister now faces the pain of life without her. “As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain,” her parents said.
The shooting injured 18 others, including 15 children, though all are expected to survive. Families are now demanding action against gun violence, pleading: “Change is possible, and it is necessary.”
The question lingers: how many more children must be lost before meaningful change finally happens?
