Grieving father calls Minneapolis shooter a ‘coward’ who took life of his 8-year-old son Fletcher during Mass

The father of one of two victims who died in a shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic Church Mass on Wednesday said his family will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him or watch him grow after a “coward” decided to take their 8-year-old’s life.

“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,” Jesse Merkel said on Thursday of his son. “Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that 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.”

Fletcher was one of two children killed in the mass shooting, though the other victim, only identified as a 10-year-old student at Annunciation Catholic Church, has not yet been named.

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Jesse Merkel said a “coward” took the life of his 8-year-old son, Fletcher, in a shooting in Minneapolis, on Aug. 27. (KMSP)

Eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel, who was one two students killed in a shooting at  Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis on Wednesday. (The Merkel Family)

In addition to the two young victims, 18 other people were injured, including 15 children — several critically — and remain hospitalized.

A 13-year-old boy, Endre Gunter, was shot in the stomach and, as of Wednesday evening, was out of surgery.

FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reported that the boy’s mother, Danielle Gunter, released a statement on Wednesday.

“Our hearts are shattered — not only for him, but for everyone who was harmed,” the Gunters wrote. “We grieve and we pray: for the others who were shot, for their families, and for those who lost loved ones.

“Our son shared with us that an MPD officer ‘really helped him.’ He said the officer rendered aid, hugged him, reassured him, and prayed with him before getting into the ambulance,” the statement continued. “Unlike others, we are blessed to hold onto him. We will help him rebuild his life, his trust, and his confidence.”

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A memorial honoring shooting victims sits outside the Annunciation Church, which is home to an elementary school and was the scene of a shooting the day before in Minneapolis, Aug. 28, 2025.   (Tim Evans/Reuters)

A GoFundMe page for Endre, who was rushed into surgery after being shot and is recovering at the hospital, has been established.

Also shot was 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, who was critically injured and underwent surgery, according to a Facebook post on Wednesday from St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church.

“Currently, Sophia has passed through the difficult and long surgery but remains in a critical situation,” the post said. “More will be determined by the loving and caring medical staff in approximately 2 to 3 days.”

A GoFundMe page set up for Sophia noted that Sophia’s younger brother was inside the school during the shooting but was not physically injured.

The post also said Sophia’s mother is a pediatric critical care nurse who was at work when she discovered her daughter was among the injured.

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During a news conference Thursday, acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joe Thompson said the shooter left hundreds of pages of writings, and, after reading them, it was clear that the shooter wanted nothing more than “to kill children.”

“The shooter was obsessed with the idea of killing children,” Thompson said. “The shooter saw the attack as a way to target our most vulnerable among us. While they were at their most vulnerable at school and at church. I won’t dignify the shooter’s words by repeating them. They are horrific and vile. But, in short, the shooter wanted to watch children suffer.”

At around 8:30 a.m., the suspect fired dozens of rounds into the church, shattering stained-glass and pew-side windows as terrified students and parishioners ducked for cover. 

Authorities have not yet released a motive.

People arrive at the Annunciation Church’s school as police respond to a mass shooting Wednesday in Minneapolis. (Bruce Kluckhohn/AP Photo)

Vincent Francoual, 57, whose 11-year-old daughter, Chloe, was inside the church when Westman opened fire, said she is traumatized but “doing well overall.”

“Our daughter specifically told us that she thought she was going to die yesterday… she saw a lot, she went through a lot,” Francoual told Fox News Digital. “We were worried about the trauma… she does have a guilty feeling that she didn’t do enough for her friends.

“She has a bit of a guilt trip, survivor guilt trip — we all do… it’s two families who don’ have their kids and so it’s been a lot.”

Francoual said the shooting was devastating for the Annunciation community, which is extremely close despite being located in a large city — a bond that carries special weight for Chloe, who is an only child.

“The community is super tight… it’s like a small village,” Francoual said. “So they know each other. Every kid knows each other. And it’s amazing how those kids are bouncing back. I’m more amazed than she is, to be fair.”

Minneapolis Police Chief addresses the media during a news conference on Wednesday. (Fox News / Pool)

Francoual said he was out running errands when his wife texted about the shooting at Annunciation. He said he rushed back, met her, and went to the school where police escorted families to a gymnasium and auditorium for headcounts.

Francoual said families have since had counseling and are slowly coming to terms as to what unfolded – but emphasized they will be haunted for the rest of their lives.

“She definitely doesn’t want to go to the church anymore… too much memory,” he said.”Yesterday was a nightmare… and today she slept, she had a big night and today she’s slept very well.”

Francoual, who is originally from France, said that the solution is to ban assault-style rifles and high-capacity firearms capable of rapid fire.

“The solution is no gun where you can shoot 12 rounds by the second,” he said. “Those guys who get this M16, that’s not for protection, you’re going for war here. If you need a gun, normal people get to protect themselves, no problem. But offensive guns, assault guns, that’s not for protection.”

During a news conference, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the attack.

“These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school,” he said. “They were in a church. These are kids that should be learning with their friends. They should be playing in the playground. They should be able to go to school or church in peace without fear.”

In a national response, President Donald Trump ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff until Aug. 31, 2025, in memory of the victims.

“As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on August 27, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff until sunset, August 31, 2025,” Trump said. 

The White House confirmed flags will be lowered across public buildings, military posts and embassies worldwide.

Pope Leo XIV also sent his condolences to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis.

“At this extremely difficult time, the Holy Father imparts to the Annunciation Catholic School Community, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the people of the greater twin cities metropolitan area his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace, fortitude and consolation in the Lord Jesus,” he wrote on Telegram.

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Police said the shooter was armed with three firearms and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the back of the church.

The tragedy comes amid a surge of active shooter hoaxes and threats targeting U.S. college campuses in recent days, underscoring growing concerns over school and community safety.