The families of the two children killed in Wednesday’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis have shared their grief publicly for the first time.
The victims were identified as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski. Both were killed when transgender gunman Robin Westman opened fire during a back-to-school Mass.
Fletcher Merkel Remembered
At a Thursday press conference, Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, described his son as a loving child who enjoyed fishing, cooking, and sports.
“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us,” Merkel said. “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 praised the quick actions of children and adults during the attack, saying their bravery prevented an even greater loss of life. “Without these people and their selfless actions, this could have been a tragedy of many magnitudes more,” Merkel said.
He closed by asking the community to remember Fletcher for the boy he was, not the way his