MxM News

Quick Hit:

One of the young victims of Wednesday’s mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school has been identified as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel. His grieving father denounced the gunman as a “coward” who took his son’s life during a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Church.

Key Details:

• Fletcher Merkel, 8, and another 10-year-old child were killed when 22-year-old Robert “Robin” Westman opened fire through the church’s stained glass windows during Mass on Wednesday. Fletcher’s father, Jessie Merkel, said his son loved fishing, cooking, sports, and time with family.
• Nearly 20 others—most of them children ages 6 to 15—were injured in the attack. Nine remained hospitalized Thursday, including one child in critical condition, according to Hennepin County Medical Center. Survivors described hiding under pews, rushing to the basement, or shielding themselves beneath classmates as Westman fired 116 rounds before turning the gun on himself.
• Authorities revealed Westman had posted disturbing videos online and filled a manifesto with hate-filled rants and plans for the shooting. Pages detailed his desire to target “a large group of kids” at the church.

WATCH: Father of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, killed in Minneapolis school shooting, gives statement. 💔🙏

"Please remember Fletcher for person he was, not act that ended his life."

"Give your kids an extra hug & kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You'll always be with us." pic.twitter.com/R4GKQhNbCD

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 28, 2025

Diving Deeper:

The Minneapolis community is mourning after authorities confirmed Thursday that 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel was among those killed in a horrifying mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School. Fletcher and another 10-year-old student were gunned down as they sat in pews during a morning Mass, when Robert “Robin” Westman, a 22-year-old transgender-identifying male, opened fire through stained-glass windows.

At a press conference, Fletcher’s father, Jessie Merkel, spoke through grief and anger, describing his son as a boy who “loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking, and any sports that he was allowed to play.” He called Westman a “coward,” adding, “While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find healing.” Merkel also expressed gratitude to the students and staff whose “swift and heroic actions” helped prevent an even greater tragedy.

In total, nearly 20 people were wounded in the attack—most of them children between the ages of 6 and 15. Hospital officials said nine victims remained in care as of Thursday afternoon, including one child in critical condition. Among the wounded was 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, whose mother was working a shift at Hennepin County Medical Center when victims began arriving. Another survivor, 13-year-old Endre Gunter, reportedly asked a doctor to “pray with [him]” before surgery.

Students who made it out described chilling silence as the shooter sprayed bullets—116 rounds in total. Many said there was no screaming, only the sound of gunfire, before they scrambled to hide in pews, basements, or under one another’s bodies.

Police Chief Brian O’Hara said investigators recovered Westman’s journals and online posts that revealed months of planning. In his writings, Westman expressed hatred “towards almost every group imaginable,” including Jews, people of color, and even children. His manifesto included detailed notes about attacking the Annunciation campus, noting the church as an “easy attack form and devastating tragedy.”

Authorities are still searching for a clear motive, though the manifesto makes clear the gunman envisioned a large-scale massacre. Chief O’Hara called the writings “repugnant” and confirmed they included early drafts of the shooting plan.

As Minneapolis reels, Fletcher Merkel’s father’s words echo: a child full of life and love was taken by senseless violence. The community now faces the difficult road of mourning and healing while demanding answers about how such evil came to their church’s doorstep.