At least 2 children dead, 17 injured in Minneapolis Catholic school shooting; Cardinal Tobin releases statement
A deadly mass shooting took place the morning of Aug. 27 at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis shortly after the start of the school day during an all-school Mass at the adjacent Annunciation Catholic Church.
The gunman shot from the outside of the church through windows at the Mass attendees with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, killing two children, ages 8 and 10. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, 17 others are injured, including 14 children.
The suspected gunman is also dead and believed to have taken his own life in the parking lot. Local police say there is no longer an active threat.
Aug. 27 was the third day of the school year for the Catholic elementary school, which serves students in preschool to grade eight. Students were attending an all-school Mass that began at 8:15 a.m. local time. Authorities were alerted at 8:27 a.m.
The mass shooting at Annunciation appears to be the first of its kind involving a Catholic school since the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colorado.
Nine children and two adults among injured
According to Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center in downtown Minneapolis, 11 patients were taken to HCMC, among them two adults and nine children ages 6-14.
Father Erich Rutten, pastor of nearby St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, arrived on scene this morning to pray with and comfort distraught and grieving parents at the school.
The priest told NBC News that parents were in “great, great anxiety and grief,” with some “wailing and crying, some stooping to the ground.”
He told the news outlet that he hugged those he recognized; several of them joined in as he prayed the rosary.
Pope Leo offers prayers
On its website, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis posted, “Please pray for all those affected by the shooting today at Annunciation in Minneapolis.”
Bishop Kevin T. Kenney, auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who grew up attending Annunciation Parish, told local ABC affiliate KSTP, “It’s just unbelievable that this could happen, still today.”
It’s “very sad for the community, for the families, and very sad for the families who have lost loved ones,” said Bishop Kenney, speaking at HCMC.
Pope Leo XIV offered his prayers, according to a message to Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state.
“His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was profoundly saddened to learn of the loss of life and injuries following the shooting that took place at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, and he sends his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child,” he wrote.
“While commending the souls of the deceased children to the love of Almighty God, his Holiness prays for the wounded as well as the first responders, medical personnel and clergy who are caring for them and their loved ones,” Cardinal Parolin continued. “At this extremely difficult time, the Holy Father imparts to the Annunciation Catholic School community, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the people of the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area his apostolic blessing as a pledge of peace, fortitude and consolation in the Lord Jesus.”
Cardinal Tobin’s statement
Bishops and Catholic leaders across the country have also issued their condolences and offered prayers in solidarity with the church in Minnesota.
In a statement about the tragedy, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, said:
“I ask the faithful of the Archdiocese of Newark to join me in prayer for all those affected by today’s tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. What should have been a joyful beginning to a new academic year was instead shattered by senseless violence.
We hold close in prayer the children, families, teachers and parish community of Annunciation. We also extend our support to Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who once served the faithful of Newark as our Coadjutor Archbishop, and to all in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as they shepherd their flock through this time of grief.
No child should ever face fear in a place of learning and worship, and no parent should endure the loss of a child to violence. We commend the victims to the mercy of Christ, who alone can heal broken hearts, and I ask the faithful here in New Jersey to stand with them in prayer and solidarity.
As our own Catholic schools begin this year, we renew our commitment to providing safe, hope-filled environments for every student. We remain deeply grateful to all who work tirelessly to protect our children and communities.
May Christ our Redeemer bring comfort to the grieving and peace to all who mourn.”
Statement from the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey
The New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC) also released the following statement:
“With heavy hearts and profound sorrow, the New Jersey Catholic Conference extends our deepest condolences and prayers to all those affected by the tragic shooting that occurred today while students at Annunciation School in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis gathered for the celebration of Mass for the opening of the new academic year.
We mourn the precious lives lost, the young souls wounded, and the countless families and communities forever changed by this senseless act of violence. Additionally, we offer our prayers and support to Bishop Joseph Williams, Diocese of Camden, who served as a priest and Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese where these horrific events occurred.
We call upon the Catholic community and all people of good will to stand in solidarity with the victims and their families — not only in prayer, but in active commitment to fostering a culture of life, mercy, and peace…”
You may read the full NJCC statement HERE.
This article was written by Maria Wiering for OSV News. Jersey Catholic updated the story with Cardinal Tobin’s statement. Note: Updated on August 28 to include the NJCC statement.
Featured image: First responders block the crime scene following a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis Aug. 27, 2025. The Richfield Police Department is reporting there are up to 20 victims; two children and the suspected shooter are dead. (OSV News photo/Tim Evans, Reuters)
