MINNEAPOLIS — The funeral for Fletcher Merkel, the 8-year-old killed in the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School, was held Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Visitation took place from 2-4 p.m. and was followed by the funeral service at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church.

"It's unbelievable to be coming to an eight-year-old's funeral. Leaving my five-year-old at home, who just started kindergarten, to come to a funeral for an eight-year-old," said Paige Balzer, whose sister babysat Fletcher since he was a few weeks old.

People arrived at the funeral wearing bright clothes at the request of the family. Many kids and adults showed up wearing Annunciation t-shirts that read "A Future Filled with Hope."

"Curious about animals, he had an expansive collection of facts to share. D

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