A community in mourning grapples with unimaginable grief after 10-year-old Harper Moyski was identified as a victim in the tragic Annunciation Church and School shooting. Her family’s heartfelt plea for action against gun violence resonates deeply. What steps can we collectively take to prevent such devastating loss? Read the full story and join the conversation.
The community of Annunciation is reeling from a devastating school tragedy as 10-year-old Harper Moyski has been officially identified as one of the innocent child victims of the recent mass shooting. This heartbreaking confirmation has sent shockwaves through the local area, deepening the collective grief for those affected by the senseless act of gun violence that unfolded during the first week back at school.
Harper was one of two child victims fatally shot during morning mass, with 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel also losing his life in the attack. The horrific incident also left eighteen other individuals injured, including fifteen children, ranging from ages six to fifteen, and three adults in their eighties who were attending the church service. The sheer scale of injuries underscores the brutal nature of this Annunciation shooting.
In a profoundly moving statement, Harper Moyski’s family expressed their profound devastation, remembering their beloved daughter as a “bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.” Beyond their personal sorrow, the family extended their thoughts to other grieving families and the injured, while also issuing a powerful plea for meaningful action to address gun violence and the mental health crisis plaguing the nation.
The harrowing events began at precisely 8:27 a.m. on August 27th, when 911 calls flooded emergency lines reporting a shooting at the Annunciation Church and Catholic School in south Minneapolis. Multiple law enforcement agencies swiftly converged on the scene, responding to the urgent reports of gunfire in what quickly became a critical incident in Minneapolis news.
Authorities revealed that a shooter, dressed in black, approached the outside of the church and opened fire through its stained-glass windows, targeting children seated in the pews during mass. The assailant was heavily armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, discharging more than 100 rounds. Police later recovered three shotgun shells, 116 rifle rounds, and one live round from a malfunctioning handgun.
Investigators believe the shooter never actually entered the church building, instead dying by suicide in the adjacent parking lot as first responders arrived. This detail adds another layer to the tragic circumstances, highlighting the rapid and devastating impact the external assault had on the unsuspecting congregants inside the holy sanctuary.
First responders exhibited extraordinary bravery, arriving at the scene at 8:31 a.m. and immediately rushing into the church to rescue children who were hiding. One officer notably entered without a helmet or full gear, demonstrating immense courage in the face of extreme danger. The initial reports indicated 14 children were injured, but later updates confirmed a 15th young victim who had been privately transported for treatment of a “graze wound.”
As of Thursday morning, Hennepin Healthcare was caring for nine patients, including five children in satisfactory condition, and one child and one adult in serious condition, with one child in critical condition. Children’s Hospital, which had treated seven patients, had discharged six children, continuing to care for one child as the community grapples with the ongoing recovery and profound implications of this mass shooting.
