Church leaders and county officials in Los Angeles Wednesday expressed sorrow after an assailant fired a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis, killing an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old in the pews and injuring 17 others.
The students were celebrating their first Mass of the new school year when the shooting took place.
“We are praying for our brothers and sisters in Minneapolis,” Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles posted on social media. “We pray for those who died and those who were injured in this morning’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. May God grant eternal rest to those whose lives were taken, and may he give comfort to their families and loved ones.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn issued a statement urging Congress to pass gun violence prevention legislation.
“The American people have had enough thoughts and prayers from politicians,” Hahn said in a social media post. “These children were literally in Mass when they were murdered. Congress has the power to act on gun violence — what’s missing is the courage.”
Paul Escala, senior director and superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, offered prayers for the parish and community in Minneapolis.
“Our community of faith is united in sorrow with the families, teachers and staff of Annunciation School in Minneapolis, Minnesota,” he said. “We offer our prayers for the parish and school community as they endure this terrible tragedy. As a parent, this hits home in a very personal way — my heart is broken for these children and their parents.”
Calling the tragedy “shocking news for all of us in the ministry of Catholic Schools,” Escala said the Archdiocese is “focused on providing support to our schools to help our students and staff process the impact of this senseless act of violence.
“Our schools are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all in our school communities. As with every start of the school year, our schools have reviewed and implemented safety protocols. These protocols are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and in light of this event we will work with our law enforcement partners to do all we can to ensure the safety of our schools.”
Pope Leo also expressed his sadness at Wednesday’s shooting. In a statement, the pontiff said he sends his “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.”
The attacker, identified as Robin Westman, 23, who is believed to be a former student at the school, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the rear of the church. Of the 17 people injured, 14 were children, and two were in critical condition, Minneapolis police said.