The grieving families of two children killed in the US Catholic school shooting have said their “hearts are broken” as they urged leaders to take decisive steps to address gun violence.
Ten-year-old Harper Moyski and eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel were killed during mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Eighteen other people were injured in the shooting, including children aged between six and 15.
Police said Robin Westman, born Robert Westman, opened fire through the windows of the school’s church while the schoolchildren were attending Mass before taking his own life.
Harper’s parents Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin remembered her as a “bright, joyful and deeply loved” young girl, whose “ laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.”
In a statement to media outlets, they said: "Our hearts are broken not only as parents, but also for Harper’s sister, who adored her big sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss. As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.”
Harper’s parents said they grieve with the “fellow Annunciation family” and expressed their gratitude for staff and first responders at the scene on Wednesday.
"While our immediate focus is on Harper and our family’s healing, we also believe it is important that her memory fuels action,” their statement said.
“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.”
Jesse Merkel, father of Fletcher Merkel, made an emotional statement to the media yesterday, as he called the shooter a “coward” for the fact Fletcher’s family can now no longer “"hold him, talk to him, play with him and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming."
Speaking to NBC News, he said: "Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sports that he was allowed to play," his father said. "While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find healing."
The shooting took place just two days into the new school year at Annunciation Catholic school, a private elementary school with about 395 students.
"This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping.
“The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told reporters.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the case was being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.
