8/27/2025 United States (International Christian Concern) — As students attended Mass at Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to mark the first week of the school year, dozens of rounds of bullets pierced the church’s windows.

Two children, ages 8 and 10, died. At least 17 people, most of whom were children ages 6 to 14, were injured. Some are in critical condition.

Authorities said the shooter used a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol to fire at the children in the pews. The shooter, who has not been identified, then died by suicide.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey extended his condolences to the families of the victims during a press briefing. He added that unsincere expressions of “thoughts and prayers” aren’t an adequate response to the shooting.

“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” he said. “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”

Annunciation is a private elementary school with nearly 400 students, connected to Annunciation Catholic Church. The shooting is part of an emerging trend of church attacks in the U.S.

“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told the press. “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.”

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email press@persecution.org. To support ICC’s work around the world, please give to our Where Most Needed Fund.