A tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, left two children dead and 17 injured on Wednesday, marking the latest in a decades-long series of U.S. school violence incidents. Authorities confirmed the attacker, armed with multiple firearms, fired into a church during Mass before taking his own life.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara described the scene as "chaotic," noting the shooter targeted children seated in pews. The suspect, a man in his 20s with no significant criminal history, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff, calling the event "a heartbreak for all Americans."
The FBI is investigating the attack as a potential hate crime and act of domestic terrorism against Catholics. Director Kash Patel stated on social media that agents are "working tirelessly to uncover motives." This incident follows a grim pattern: 44 school shootings have occurred in the U.S. this year alone, per CNN data.
With 286 mass shootings recorded in 2024 by the Gun Violence Archive, the Minnesota tragedy underscores persistent debates over firearm regulations. Analysts note such events disproportionately affect communities globally through media coverage, sparking discussions about public safety models in other regions, including Asia.
