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Witness and former student describes emergency vehicle response
Brianna Lane, a former Annunciation Catholic School student, described seeing police cars and emergency vehicles pass by on their way to work.
“We knew it was bad when we saw the second cop car flying through,” Lane told NBC News.
Lane, a former student and parishioner at Annunciation, said that the shooting “hits differently when it’s your own community.”
“This being the first Wednesday, you know, I thought all the kids are probably at Mass,” Lane said. “And they were”
Share‘Hug your kids close,’ Gov. Tim Walz posts on X after shooting
Anna Sundberg and David K. Li
Gov. Tim Walz said his state is “heartbroken” and urged them all to embrace their children.
“From the officers responding, to the clergy and teachers providing comfort, to the hospital staff saving lives, we will get through this together,” Walz wrote in a post on X. “Hug your kids close.”
ShareNearby resident heard long series of loud ‘pop’ noises
Andrew Winchell was on his porch preparing to drive his wife to work when he heard a series of piercingly loud noises that lasted for what felt like a full two minutes.
“It was this incredibly loud and repeated ‘pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop,’ then a pause, then another ‘pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.’ It just kept going and going,” said Winchell, a 42-year-old construction worker and stay-at-home dad.
Winchell, who lives about a block away from Annunciation, thought the “pop” noises were too loud to be coming from something like a roofing gun. When he eventually learned that there had been a shooting at Annunciation, he was deeply disturbed.
“I can see the bell tower of the church from my house right now,” Winchell said in a phone interview. “It was all happening right there.”
ShareWitness described ‘terrifying’ shooting scene 
Madee Brandt, a nanny who works near the shooting scene, pulled into the neighborhood just as police arrived and children fled.
“I was thankful to see kids coming out unharmed, safe, but just [seeing] the looks on some of their faces … just the screams coming from the moms who didn’t know where their kids are,” Brandt told reporters.
“You see videos online, but it does not compare to seeing it and witnessing it in person. That was rough.”
Brandt’s car is still within the locked-down zone, prompting her mother to come and get her, bringing their dog to the scene for comfort.
“It is terrifying,” the nanny said while petting the dog.
ShareThis is the 5th school shooting of the year, according to NBC News tracker
Today’s tragedy marked the fifth school shooting of 2025, according to a school shooting tracker by NBC News.
The other shootings occurred at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood, California, on May 2; Florida State University in Tallahassee on April 17; Pasadena Memorial High School in Texas on Feb. 1; and Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 22.
ShareCatholic priest went inside school to comfort families
Natasha Korecki and Daniel Arkin
Father Erich Rutten, a Roman Catholic priest whose parish is near Annunciation, went inside the school this morning to offer support to families trying to make sense of the tragedy.
Rutten told NBC News he saw parents in “great, great anxiety and grief.” He saw parents who were “wailing and crying, some stooping to the ground,” he said.
He hugged the people he recognized from the community. Then he began to pray the rosary, and others joined in.
“We’re asking God to help in this situation,” Rutten said.
Natasha Korecki reported from Minneapolis, Daniel Arkin from New York.
ShareAnnunciation’s former interim pastor ‘devastated’ and shocked
The Rev. Bob Hart, a former interim pastor at Annunciation who left in June after one year, said the deadly violence at the school was “unbelievable” to him.
“It’s hard to believe this could happen at a Catholic Mass,” Hart told NBC News. “I’m devastated that this happened at a place I just left two months ago.”
Hart, 77, described Annunciation as a “very close-knit and very supportive” community where everyone is made to feel welcome.
He did not know the identities of the victims, he said. However, he expects to recognize many names if the authorities make that information public.
ShareHennepin Healthcare is treating 9 pediatric patients, 2 adults
Hennepin Healthcare said it is treating nine pediatric patients and two adults. Seven of the patients brought in were in critical condition, and four of those “required the operating room,” Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine, said at a news conference.
The pediatric patients ranged in age from 6 to 14, he said.
The hospital said that none of the patients has been discharged and there have been no fatalities.
ShareDevice similar to smoke bomb found, police chief says
Chief Brian O’Hara debunked rumors that an improvised explosive device was found at the school after the shooting.
He did, however, add that something that one might call a smoke bomb was found. O’Hara clarified that it wasn’t an explosive, but rather “a sort of firework.”
ShareWhat we know about how the shooting unfolded
Just before 8:30 a.m. local time, authorities say an unidentified gunman approached the side of the church where the Annunciation Catholic School was hosting its morning Mass.
The side of the building where the gunman approached had two doors, where it appears 2-by-4 wood planks were placed to barricade the doors from the outside, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
The gunman began firing a rifle through the church windows from the side of the building toward the children who were sitting in the pews, he said.
Dozens of children were inside during the Mass at the time. First responders from the police department entered the church to provide first aid and rescue children who were hiding throughout the building, according to O’Hara.
The suspect, a man in his 20s, is believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the parking lot.
Investigators are still processing the scene, but O’Hara said the number of rounds fired appears to be “in the dozens.”
ShareSuspect believed to be a lone shooter in his 20s, police say
Police believe the suspect was a lone shooter in his 20s who died of a self-inflicted gunshot in the parking lot.
The suspect was not identified.
Authorities are still investigating a possible motive, Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters. O’Hara added that it is not yet known whether the suspect legally obtained the firearms or whether they had any extensive criminal history.
Community members embrace at the school today.Alex Kormann / Star Tribune via APShareParent recalls ‘shock and disbelief’ after getting news of shooting
Reporting from Minneapolis
The father of two children who attend Annunciation was sitting at work when he got a text message from his wife. She said there was a shooting at the school, and only one of his sons had been located.
“I immediately left work,” Tyler, the father, told NBC News outside the school. “I was a nervous wreck. I was just shocked and in disbelief that this was happening at Annunciation. I couldn’t get here quick enough.”
Tyler was ultimately reunited with both of his boys.
Share2 kids were killed and 17 people injured, police chief says
Two children are dead and 17 people are injured, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
“During the Mass, a gunman approached on the outside, on the side of the building, and began firing a rifle through the church windows towards the children sitting in the pews at the Mass,” the chief said.
The children were ages 8 and 10. Two other children are in critical condition.
O’Hara said that 14 of the injured were children.
The shooter was armed with a shotgun, a rifle and a pistol, O’Hara said. He described it as an “incomprehensible” act of cowardice.
A mom hugs her son outside the church today.Richard Tsong-Taatarii / Star Tribune via APShare‘Children are dead,’ Mayor Frey says
Children were killed today after a gunman opened fire at the Annunciation Catholic School morning Mass, Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed to reporters.
He did not specify the number of victims, but he said that “children are dead.”
“You cannot put into words the gravity, tragedy or absolute pain of this moment,” Frey said.
SharePresident Donald Trump spoke to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
A White House official told NBC News that President Donald Trump spoke to Gov. Tim Walz following today’s shooting.
ShareATF has a firearm from the shooter in its possession, source says
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were some of the very first responders to the scene because they just happened to be in the area of the shooting, according to an ATF source in Minneapolis.
The bureau has at least one firearm in its possession from the shooter, and they are beginning the tracing protocol, the source added.
ShareWitness saw crying and bloodied children exiting the school
Mike Garrity was walking home from the gym this morning when he heard a series of loud noises that he initially thought were coming from a nail gun at a construction site.
When he got closer to the church, he realized something terrible had happened.
Garrity, 64, who lives across the street from Annunciation, saw about a dozen crying children stream out of the school. At least three of them were covered in blood, he said.
He also saw adults who appeared to be members of the faculty or staff. “Don’t go in there,” one of them said.
Minneapolis police soon arrived at the scene, and officers darted inside the school, Garrity said.
Police outside the church today.Tim Evans / ReutersShareSix children being treated at Children’s Minnesota
Minyvonne Burke and Jesse Rodriguez
Six children are being treated at Children’s Minnesota, a hospital spokesperson said, declining to release further details.
“Children’s Minnesota is aware of the recent tragic shooting in Minneapolis. Our teams are trained to respond in times of crisis, and are fully prepared to care for impacted children,” the hospital said in a statement. “We will not share more details to respect the privacy of our patients and families.”
ShareSen. Klobuchar says a 7th grade student watched her friends being shot in the back and neck
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., told MSNBC that she had spoken to one of her longtime employees who had three children in the school during the shooting.
The senator described the call with the mother as “one of the most upsetting things I’ve ever heard.” The woman’s daughter, who is in the seventh grade, watched her friends be shot.
“These kids are doing an all-school Mass and had to watch several of her friends get shot — one in the back, one in the neck,” Klobuchar said.”And they all got down under the pews and she — her daughter, of course, was not shot — but her daughter ended up being the one to tell one of the dads of one of the other kids that his daughter had been shot.”
Klobuchar added that the children have been taken to a “very good” children’s hospital nearby and to other area hospitals for treatment. She did not have exact numbers.
ShareParents rush to be reunited with their children
Reporting from Minneapolis
The scene is emotional at the school, with parents in tears as they rush out of the campus carrying children on their shoulders, holding them by the hands, and pulling them away as quickly as possible.
Parents were told they could be reunited with their children in the school’s basement, said Erin, a mother who only gave her first name.
ShareShooting suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound
Jonathan Dienst and Andrew Blankstein
The suspect in the Minneapolis shooting died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to three law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation.
ShareAnxious parents await news outside of school
Richard Tsong-Taatarii / The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images
Parents wait for news about their children after a shooting at Annunciation Church today in Minneapolis.
ShareToday’s City Council meeting canceled
A Minneapolis City Council meeting has been canceled, according to its public schedule.
The meeting was scheduled for 1 p.m. to address a possible litigation matter, but it has been called off.
ShareMap: Location of Annunciation Catholic School
The school is in southwest Minneapolis.
ShareMinneapolis mayor to hold news conference
Doha Madani and Jesse Rodriguez
Mayor Jacob Frey’s office will hold a news conference at 11:30 a.m. ET, according to a spokesperson.
ShareAn ‘All-School Mass’ was scheduled for this morning at Annunciation Church and school
There was an “All-School Mass” scheduled for 8:15 a.m. local time this morning, according to the calendar on the Annunciation Church and school’s website.
According to the website, this service takes place each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning.
ShareSt. Thomas More Catholic School says it’s keeping students inside
St. Thomas More Catholic School in Minneapolis said it is keeping students and staff inside “pending further details about this developing situation.”
“Our hearts and prayers are with the students, teachers, and community at Annunciation Catholic School in South Minneapolis,” the school said in a Facebook post.
St. Thomas More Catholic School is about 12 miles from Annunciation Catholic School.
ShareTrump says he has been briefed on the shooting
President Donald Trump said he has been “fully briefed on the tragic shooting” in Minneapolis.
“The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform. “The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!”
Vice President JD Vance said on X: “We’re at the WH monitoring the situation in Minneapolis. Join all of us in praying for the victims!”
ShareDepartment of Homeland Security monitoring shooting
The Department of Homeland Security said it is also monitoring the shooting.
“We are in communication with our interagency partners, and will share more information as soon as it becomes available,” Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X. “I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families.”
ShareMinneapolis police were already investigating 3 deadly shootings in 12 hours
Before today’s school shooting, there were three deadly shootings in Minneapolis in 12 hours, according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
“The level of gun violence across the city within the last day is deeply unsettling,” the Minneapolis Police Department said in a news release. “Across three separate multiple-victim shootings, eight people have been injured by gunfire and three have lost their lives.”
The attack at Annunciation Church would be the fourth deadly shooting in Minneapolis in less than 24 hours. In the most recent shooting, one man was killed and another injured at 2:08 a.m. in downtown Minneapolis.
Blood from a shooting victim dots the sidewalk on Clinton Avenue South yesterday in Minneapolis.Jeff Wheeler / TNS via Zuma / ShutterstockShareWhat to know about Annunciation Catholic School
Annunciation Catholic School was founded in 1923 as a place for students to learn about “Christian values and civic-mindedness,” according to a cached version of the school’s website.
“You’ll find teachers, parents, staff and students who truly value education and faith-based learning, and you’ll see those values in action in each of our classrooms,” the school says on its website.
The school serves students from preschool through eighth grade. The first day of the school year was Monday, according to a Facebook post.
ShareShooter is contained, city says
The city of Minneapolis posted on X just before 10:30 a.m. ET that the shooter is contained and “there is no active threat to the community at this time.”
The city asked people to stay away from the area “to allow emergency personnel to help victims.”
Police at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis today.KAREShareFBI is aware of reports of a shooting, deputy director says
“FBI is aware of the reports coming out of @FBIMinneapolis and our agents are en route to the scene,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a post on X. “We will provide more updates as able.”
ShareMayor Jacob Frey said he’s monitoring the situation
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he is “monitoring reports of horrific violence in South Minneapolis,” and the emergency response team has been activated.
“We will share more information as soon as we can,” he said in a post on X. “Please give our officers the space they need to respond to the situation.”
Share‘Unknown amount of victims at a church and school’ in shooting, DNC chair says
Reporting from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“There is an active shooter here in Minneapolis right now, an unknown amount of victims at a church and school,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said today.
“EMS has requested mass casualty. … If any of you are doctors or otherwise first responders that could help — it seems to be a fairly significant shooting,” said Martin, who is the former head of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and is in Minneapolis for a DNC convention.
ShareATF agents respond to active shooter reports
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in St. Paul said it was responding to reports of an active shooter at the church.
ShareGov. Tim Walz says he is briefed on the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School
Minneapolis Gov. Tim Walz posted on X today that he has been “briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information.”
“The BCA and State Patrol are on scene,” Walz added. “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.”