MINNEAPOLIS — A shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of two children and left 17 others injured, including 14 children. The shooter, who was in his early 20s, also died at the scene. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the incident as a deliberate act of violence against innocent children during Mass at Annunciation Catholic School.

The shooter was armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol. He approached the side of the church and fired through the windows at children seated in the pews. O’Hara stated that the shooter did not have an extensive criminal history, and authorities are investigating his motive.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the violence, calling it “horrific.” He expressed 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, is also treating victims from the shooting.

Witnesses described the chaos during the shooting. Bill Bienemann, a local resident, reported hearing dozens of 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 years ago, expressed her heartbreak and fear for the community.

The school was evacuated, and families were directed to a designated area to reunite with their children. Outside, many children were seen leaving the school with adults, some in tears. A heavy police presence surrounded the area, which is located about five miles south of downtown Minneapolis.

The school, which has been in operation since 1923, had just begun its academic year on Monday. An all-school Mass was scheduled for 8:15 a.m. on the day of the shooting. Recent social media posts from the school showed children enjoying back-to-school activities.

This incident follows a series of violent events in Minneapolis, including a shooting outside a high school the day before, which left one person dead and six others injured. The school shooting also coincided with a wave of hoax calls about shootings at various U.S. college campuses, causing widespread panic as the school year begins.