At least five children were injured in a shooting on Wednesday at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, marking a tragic start to the school year. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the incident as "horrific" and expressed his concern for the affected students and teachers.

Authorities confirmed that the shooter was contained, and there was no ongoing threat to the community. Governor Walz shared his thoughts on social media, stating, "I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence."

Children’s Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, reported that five children were admitted for treatment. Hennepin Healthcare, which operates the largest emergency department in Minnesota, also confirmed it was treating patients from the shooting.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene. Bill Bienemann, a local resident, reported hearing what he estimated to be around 50 shots over a span of four minutes. "I was shocked. I said, ‘There’s no way that could be gunfire,’" he recalled. His daughter, Alexandra, who attended the school from kindergarten through eighth grade, expressed her distress, saying, "It breaks my heart, makes me sick to my stomach, knowing that there are people I know who are either injured or maybe even killed."

The school was evacuated, and families were directed to a designated area for reunification. Outside the school, children in dark green uniforms were seen leaving with adults, many in tears and sharing emotional farewells. A significant presence of law enforcement, including local, state, county, and federal officers, responded to the scene in the residential area located about five miles south of downtown Minneapolis.

In a statement on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump mentioned he was briefed on the "tragic shooting" and noted that the White House would continue to monitor the situation. Annunciation Catholic School, which has been in operation since 1923, had scheduled an all-school Mass for Wednesday morning, the first week of classes.

The shooting occurred just a day after another violent incident in Minneapolis, where one person was killed and six others injured outside a high school. This incident was part of a series of shootings in the city within a 24-hour period, including two additional fatalities.

The school shooting also followed a wave of hoax calls about potential shootings at various U.S. college campuses, which had caused panic among students as the academic year began. Recent social media posts from Annunciation Catholic School depicted children enjoying a back-to-school event, highlighting the stark contrast to the day's tragic events.