After an unthinkable tragedy that claimed the lives of two young children, their families are turning grief into a plea for change, refusing to let a single violent act define their children’s lives.
The community of Minneapolis was shattered by violence in a place meant for worship when a gunman opened fire during a school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church, and two children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski were killed during the shooting.
17 other were injured during the act. Among them, 14 children aged six to 15 and three parishioners in their 80s.
The shooter, who opened fire through the church’s stained-glass windows, was identified as 23-year-old former student Robin Westman.
He used various weapons, including a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, the Guardian reported.
The shooter grew up in Richfield and his mother worked at Annunciation school at some point in the past.
According to court documents obtained by the Guardian, Westman filed in Dakota County to change their birth name from Robert to Robin after identifying as a woman. The request was approved in January 2020.
Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said, “This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.”
O’Hara shared that the shooter had scheduled a manifesto to be released on YouTube that “appeared to show him at the scene and included some disturbing writings.” With the help of the FBI, the content has now been removed, he added.
Jesse Merkel, 8-year-old Fletcher’s father, spoke of the tragedy that took their son from them, saying, “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.”
He spoke of his son and shared that Fletcher loved life.
He adored his friends, loved fishing, cooking “and any sport that he was allowed to play.”
The father added, “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.”
10-year-old Harper was described as a “bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.”
“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,” her parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, said in a statement provided to ABC Minneapolis station KSTP. “As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.”
Authorities are investigating the motive behind the shooting, while the shooter has expressed remorse and admitted to experiencing profound distress along with the intent to commit a final act.
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