The 2 college students killed within the Annunciation Catholic School mass shooting have been an 8-year-old boy who beloved to fish and prepare dinner and a 10-year-old woman recognized for her laughter and kindness.
Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, died when the shooter opened hearth via the home windows of the Minneapolis faculty’s church on Wednesday morning, their households confirmed Thursday.
Fletcher’s father urged dad and mom to “give your children an additional hug” as he remembered his son.
An undated photograph of Fletcher Merkel.
Merkel Household
“Yesterday, a coward determined to take our 8-year-old son, Fletcher, away from us,” Jesse Merkel mentioned throughout remarks exterior the college on Thursday, publicly figuring out his son as one of many victims killed within the “mindless act of violence” carried out by a 23-year-old former pupil on the faculty. “Due to their actions, we’ll by no means be allowed to carry him, speak to him, play with him, and watch him develop into the great younger man he was on the trail to changing into.”
Jesse Merkel mentioned his son beloved his household, mates, fishing, cooking “and any sport that he was allowed to play.”
The daddy added, “Whereas the outlet in our hearts and lives won’t ever be crammed, I hope that in time, our household can discover therapeutic. I pray that the opposite sufferer’s household can discover some semblance of the identical.”
An undated photograph of Harper Moyski.
Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin
Harper’s dad and mom remembered her as a “brilliant, joyful, and deeply beloved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everybody who knew her.”
“Our hearts are damaged not solely as dad and mom, but additionally for Harper’s sister, who adored her huge sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss,” her dad and mom, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, mentioned in a press release supplied to ABC Minneapolis station KSTP. “As a household, we’re shattered, and phrases can’t seize the depth of our ache.”
Objects together with dolls are positioned at a memorial at Annunciation Catholic Church after Wednesday’s faculty capturing, Aug. 28, 2025, in Minneapolis.
Abbie Parr/AP
Eighteen different folks — together with 15 children — have been additionally injured within the capturing and are anticipated to outlive, police mentioned.
The victims’ households praised the response to the mass capturing.
Jesse Merkel mentioned he is heard many tales of the “swift and heroic actions of kids and adults alike, from contained in the church,” he mentioned. “With out these folks and their selfless actions, this might have been a tragedy of many magnitudes extra. For these folks, I am grateful.”
Harper’s dad and mom mentioned they “additionally grieve for our fellow Annunciation household in mourning and for these damage” and that they’re “grateful for the employees and first responders who did a lot for thus many yesterday.”
Jesse Merkel, the daddy of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, speaks exterior Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Aug. 28, 2025.
KSTP
Jesse Merkel requested that folks give their youngsters “an additional hug and kiss right now” and that his son is remembered “for the particular person he was, and never the act that ended his life.”
Harper’s dad and mom mentioned it is essential that their daughter’s reminiscence “fuels motion” whereas imploring for significant change to forestall an identical tragedy and “work towards a safer, extra compassionate world.”
“No household ought to ever need to endure this type of ache,” they mentioned. “We urge our leaders and communities to take significant steps to deal with gun violence and the psychological well being disaster on this nation. Change is feasible, and it’s mandatory — in order that Harper’s story doesn’t turn out to be one more in an extended line of tragedies.”
Folks go to a memorial to yesterday’s capturing victims in entrance of Annunciation Catholic Church on August 28, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Scott Olson/Getty Photos
The capturing occurred throughout a Mass that marked the primary week of faculty, police mentioned.
The shooter — recognized as 23-year-old Robin Westman — died on the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police mentioned. Westman had attended the college, and Westman’s mom beforehand labored within the parish, police mentioned.
A motive stays underneath investigation, and police mentioned they’ve not recognized a particular set off for why the kids on the church have been focused.
Investigators decided that Westman “harbored a complete lot of hate in direction of all kinds of individuals and teams of individuals,” and in addition “had a deranged obsession with earlier mass shooters,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara advised ABC Information Stay on Thursday.
