Authorities have identified the second young student, aged 10, who was killed in Wednesday's mass school shooting in Minneapolis. The ...
Authorities have identified the second young student, aged 10, who was killed in Wednesday's mass school shooting in Minneapolis.
The second person shot and killed in Wednesday's mass shooting at a Catholic school and church in Minneapolis has been identified.
Harper Moyski, 10, was identified by his family as the deceased. She and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel were the two children killed Wednesday when a 23-year-old mass shooter opened fire on students and teachers attending a school mass on the first day of the school year.
Moyski attended Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis, where the mass shooting took place.
The young girl's family released a statement on Thursday, Aug. 28: "We are devastated to share that our beloved daughter, Harper Moyski, was tragically killed in the recent school shooting. Harper was a bright, joyful, and much-loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone she knew.
We are heartbroken not only as parents, but also for Harper's sister, who adored her older sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss. "We are shattered as a family, and words cannot express how much pain we are experiencing," her parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, stated. "While our immediate focus is on Harper and our family's recovery, we believe it is critical that her memory inspires action. No family should ever have to go through this kind of pain.
We urge our leaders and communities to take meaningful action to address gun violence and the mental health crisis in our country. Change is possible and necessary—so that Harper's story does not become just another in a long line of tragedies," they added. "We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support. Harper's light will always shine through us, and we hope that her memory inspires others to work for a safer, more compassionate world.
On Thursday, August 28, authorities announced that 18 people had been injured in the shooting, 15 of whom were children. According to local KTSP, the other three victims were churchgoers in their eighties.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke to the media at a press conference, calling the shooting "unspeakable."
"No words can adequately express the horror of this unspeakable act," Frey declared. "Children have died."
"Do not think of these as somebody else's kids; think of them as if they were your own," Frey said. "We must all embrace these families with all of our strength." These were Minneapolis families; they were American families."
Authorities identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, whose mother used to work at the school. Westman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the school parking lot, police said Wednesday.
"Our teachers were heroes," principal Matthew DeBoer said during a press conference later Wednesday. "Children were ducked down, adults were protecting children, older children were protecting younger children, and as we previously heard, it could have been much worse without their heroic action."
DeBoer, on the other hand, mourned the two students killed in the shooting, which authorities said began shortly before 8:30 a.m. local time when Westman opened fire from outside the church, shooting through windows at the students gathered for prayer inside.
"We lost two angels today," DeBoer explained.
On Wednesday, Frey stated that "you cannot put into words the gravity, tragedy, or pain of this situation."
"Don't just say it's thoughts and prayers; these kids were literally praying," Frey explained. "These are children who should be learning with their friends, playing on the playground, and being able to attend school or church peacefully."