Minneapolis church shooting kills two children, gunman dies

A gunman opened fire during a Wednesday morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in south Minneapolis, killing two children and himself and wounding numerous others, authorities said, in a shooting that has prompted increased security, a widening investigation and calls for new state gun laws. The attack occurred as students and families gathered for a back to school Mass at the private elementary school two days into the new term, officials said.

Minneapolis police and federal officials identified the shooter as 23 year old Robin Westman. Police said Westman was armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol and fired through stained glass windows into the sanctuary. Officers said the gunman later died by suicide toward the back of the church. Two children, identified by officials as 8 year old Fletcher Merkel and 10 year old Harper Moyski, were killed. Authorities gave varying counts of the injured, with reports ranging from 17 to 21 people wounded, many of them children, and some in critical condition. Hospitals in Minneapolis, including Children’s Minnesota and Hennepin Healthcare, said they were treating multiple pediatric patients; at least five children were...