Parents identified victims of Minneapolis school shooting: “Our hearts are broken” | Minneapolis school shooting

An eight-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl were killed Massive shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis Determined by parents.

Their parents confirmed that eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski died in an attack on a Catholic church on Wednesday morning. Another 17 people were injured in the shooting, of which 14 were injured.

Jesse Merkel said Thursday outside the school: “Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away.

“We will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, watch him grow into the wonderful young man he is walking on.”

Jesse Merkel said Fletcher loves his family, friends, fishing, cooking and “any sport he was allowed to compete.”

He added: “While the loopholes in our hearts will never be filled, I hope that in time our families will find recovery. I pray that the family of another victim can find the same look.”

Harper Moyski’s parents also issued a statement remembering their daughter was “a smart, happy, deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness and spirit touched everyone who knew her.”

“Our heart is not only parents, but for Harper’s sister, who admires her elder sister and is saddened by unimaginable losses,” Harper’s parents Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin said in a statement. ABC Minneapolis Station KSTP. “As a family, we are broken and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.”

Harper’s parents added that no other family should endure what they have.

“We urge our leaders and communities to take meaningful steps to address the country’s gun violence and mental health crisis,” they said. “Change is possible, it is necessary – so Harper’s story won’t be another in a series of tragedies.”

The shooting occurred at a mass marking the first week of the school. Police said the suspected perpetrator Robin Westman opened the church outside from the window. Investigators said the church doors were locked during the service, which likely saved “numerable lives.”

The exact motive for the shooting is not yet known. But police and investigators say Westman felt “infatuated” with mass shooters and was addicted to the idea of ​​killing children.

Joseph Thompson at a press conference on Thursday MinnesotaIn the book left behind, it said: “Sawmen expressed hatred for many groups, including the Jewish community and President Trump.”

Thompson added: “I will not respect the attacker’s words by repeating them, they are terrible and evil.”

The attack reignited a call for tighter control of guns, especially assault weapons, which made it impossible for most other countries in the world to imagine in regular mass murders in schools, churches, cinemas and other places in schools, churches, cinemas and other places.

“There is no reason, or even reason to be able to reload 30 photos before having to reload,” Mayor Jacob Frey said Minneapolis.

“We’re not talking about your father’s hunting rifle here. We’re talking about guns built to pierce and kill people.”