In a community torn apart by bloodshed inside a sacred space, the shattered families of Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, are remembering the children’s boundless spirits and the devastation left behind after a gunman opened fire at a Catholic school.

Now, with tears still fresh, these parents are refusing to let the tragedy fade into the background. They’re demanding accountability, remembrance, and, above all, change.

The lives of Fletcher and Harper were cut short in a hail of bullets when a 23-year-old former student unleashed terror at Annunciation Catholic School’s Church in Minneapolis. The children were just steps away from their classrooms when the gunman opened fire through church windows in a rampage.

Fletcher, an outdoors-loving, sports-obsessed 8-year-old, was remembered by his grieving father, Jesse Merkel, in a powerful, emotional statement outside the school:

“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son, Fletcher, away from us. Because of their actions, we will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming.”

Fighting back tears, Jesse spoke of a boy who was happiest with a fishing pole in one hand and cooking utensils in the other. A child who lived life with joy, laughter, and energy — until that joy was snuffed out.

Jesse revealed that Fletcher also loved his family, his friends, and any sport he was allowed to play. “While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find healing. I pray that the other victim’s family can find some semblance of the same,” he continued.

Harper was described by her grieving parents as a “bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.”

Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin released a heart-wrenching statement honoring the little girl whose laughter echoed in every room she entered — her life now reduced to memories.

The couple also revealed the devastating toll on Harper’s younger sister, who adored her big sibling — and now must carry the unbearable burden of her absence:

“Our hearts are broken not only as parents, but also for Harper’s sister, who adored her big sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss. As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.”

18 Others Injured – 15 of Them Children

In total, 18 people were injured — 15 of them children. All are expected to survive, thanks in large part to quick-thinking staff and heroic students who took swift action.

Jesse called out those acts of bravery, saying, “Without these people and their selfless actions, this could have been a tragedy of many magnitudes more. For these people, I’m thankful.”

Families Demand Action

Through their pain, both families are demanding that Fletcher and Harper’s deaths not become another statistic in America’s worsening gun crisis. They are calling on lawmakers, school leaders, and communities to finally step up — before more lives are stolen. In their statement, Harper’s parents pleaded:

“We urge our leaders and communities to take meaningful steps to address gun violence and the mental health crisis in this country. Change is possible, and it is necessary — so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies.”

Jesse, in turn, urged people to remember not the shooting, but the boy who was stolen by it. He added that others should give their children “an extra hug and kiss today” and asked that Fletcher be remembered as “the person he was, and not the act that ended his life.”

As Minneapolis mourns, the haunting image of two lifeless children in the pews of their church will not be forgotten anytime soon.

But their parents refuse to let grief be the final word — turning anguish into activism in the hopes that no more parents are forced to stand where they are standing now.

Authorities have now identified the shooter, who left a trail of disturbing online content and a handwritten manifesto revealing years of inner turmoil.

The congregation had gathered at Annunciation Church when gunfire erupted — tearing through stained-glass windows and shattering the sanctuary’s peace. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, the attacker “began firing a rifle through church windows.”

Brian added, “The shooter fired towards the children sitting in the pews at the Mass.” He stated that a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol were all fired during the assault.

A Troubled Suspect with a Dark Trail

Authorities named the shooter as Robin Westman, a local resident in her early 20s. Police Chief Brian said Robin is believed to be dead. According to KSTP, she legally changed her name from Robert in 2020 and is reported to have identified as a woman.

Also recovered was a handwritten, four-page manifesto, which documented years of mental deterioration, hopelessness, and emotional isolation.

Robin opens with an admission that forgiveness is unlikely, and any apology would ring hollow. Even so, she directs a remorseful note to her family and those closest to her, acknowledging the damage her actions will inflict on their lives.

Robin further wrote, “I have wanted this for so long. I am not well. I am not right. I am a sad person, haunted by these thoughts that do not go away. I know this is wrong, but I can’t seem to stop myself.”

Among the terrified children inside was fifth-grader Weston Halse, who later recounted the chaos. According to KSTP, he quickly hid under a pew as the gunfire erupted and then noticed specks of gunpowder dusting his neck.

“My friend Victor, like, saved me though ’cause he laid on top of me, but he got hit,” he shared in a separate CBS interview.

He explained how he felt when he saw his mom, “I was super happy because I was scared that I wasn’t gonna see her ’cause I didn’t know what was happening, really. I was just in shock. It was like right beside me. I was like two seats away from the stained-glass windows. So they were like, the shots were like right next to me.”

Regarding his friend’s condition, the little boy admitted he was “super scared for him,” but felt relieved when he learned his friend had been taken to the hospital, and he believes he’s okay.

Carla Maldonado, a parent whose two children survived, described the panic she and her husband, Pedro, felt when they arrived at the church. Her husband began shouting for their children in fear, before they found their 7-year-old daughter in the parking lot. Their 11-year-old son had been hiding in the basement.

She said school shootings have become so common, they feel “like a broken record.” The mom of two added that many parents share the same fear and frustration, and emphasized that even one life lost is too many.

President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy on Truth Social, “I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI quickly responded, and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!”

He ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on August 31 in memory of the victims, including at the White House, federal buildings, military posts, and naval installations.

The same applies to all U.S. diplomatic and other federal facilities abroad, including military sites and naval vessels/stations.