The 8-year-old killed in the tragic Annunciation Catholic School shooting Wednesday was identified by his father as Fletcher Merkel.

He was one of two children killed in the mass shooting in Minneapolis. The other was a 10-year-old whose identity has not been publicly released.

“Yesterday a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us. Because of their actions we will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming,” Jesse Merkel, Fletcher’s father, said at a news conference outside the school Thursday.

He said his son loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and sports.

“While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find heal

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