Two Children Killed, 17 Injured In Catholic School Attack During Prayer; Gunman Armed With Rifle, Shotgun, Pistol
Two children, aged eight and 10, have been confirmed killed in the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis, United States, on Wednesday morning.
It was earlier reported that tragedy struck Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, leaving up to 20 people injured in a senseless shooting rampage.
The gunman, clad in black and armed with a rifle, unleashed a wave of violence around 8:45 a.m., just 30 minutes after the all-school mass concluded at 8:15 a.m., according to CBS News.
In an update delivered by the Minneapolis mayor, the chief of police, and a hospital official, authorities confirmed the death of the two children, adding that 17 others were injured, with 14 of them being children.
According to a BBC report, seven affected children are in critical condition, quoting a doctor, while the police had earlier announced that two were in critical condition.
Meanwhile, the police said the attacker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities believe he was in his early twenties, had no extensive criminal history, and acted alone.
He was believed to have used three weapons – a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol. A smoke bomb was also found in what police believe is his car. Police are still searching for a motive.
The police said the suspected gunman approached from outside the church and fired dozens of rounds through the windows, hitting children who were inside praying during the first week of school mass.
