The principal of Annunciation Catholic School, Matt DeBoer, addressed the media on Wednesday afternoon after a gunman opened fire outside of a morning Mass service. Despite describing the shooting as a “nightmare,” he pledged to lead his school community forward.
“This is a nightmare, but we call our staff the dream team, and we will recover from this,” DeBoer said. “We will rebuild from this.”
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Victims and Casualties
According to Minneapolis Police, the shooting began before 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, during the school’s first week of the academic year. Two children — an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old sitting in church pews — were killed. Seventeen others, including 14 children, sustained injuries.
Acts of Heroism
DeBoer praised teachers, staff, and students for their swift actions as chaos unfolded.
“Within seconds of this situation beginning, our teachers were heroes,” he said. “Children were ducked down. Adults were protecting children. Older children were protecting younger children, and as we heard earlier, it could have been significantly worse without their heroic action.”
Call for Change
The principal urged the wider community to act, stressing that preventing future tragedies must be a shared responsibility.
“We, as a community, have a responsibility to make sure that no child, no parent, no teacher ever has to experience what we’ve experienced today. Ever again,” DeBoer said.
He added: “We lost two angels today, and please continue to pray for those still receiving care. We can’t change the past, but we can do something about the future. When you pray, move your feet. Let’s make a difference.”
Pope Leo XIV Sends Condolences
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, also responded to the tragedy with a telegram sent to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
The pope expressed “heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child.”
He commended the souls of the victims to God and prayed for the wounded, first responders, medical staff, and clergy supporting the community. The pope also offered his Apostolic Blessing “as a pledge of peace, fortitude, and consolation in the Lord Jesus.”
