The students were running a little late for their first Mass of the school year at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

"I checked my watch, it was supposed to start at 8:15. It was 8:18 and they were still filing in," Cathrine Spandel told NPR on Thursday outside of the church's large stained glass windows. One student was admonished for failing to genuflect before going into the pews, she recalled.

Spandel was in church that day for the Mass and fellowship that follows it. The ceremony had begun and the worshippers finished the psalm "You have Searched Me and You Know Me Lord" when the shots rang out.

Spandel first thought it was firecrackers. A prank, she said. But she soon realized it was gunfire.

"Even before the principal yelled, 'Get down!' I flew to the

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