MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis community is rallying in grief and solidarity after the tragic school shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church, which left two children dead and several more critically injured. Among the wounded is 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, a seventh-grade student now fighting for her life in intensive care.
The shooting unfolded Wednesday morning as students, teachers, and parishioners gathered for the first week of the school year. Witnesses say the sound of stained-glass windows shattering was followed by terrifying bursts of gunfire.
Children screamed and scattered while teachers and staff tried desperately to shield them from the bullets. Law enforcement officials confirmed that 23-year-old Robin Westman opened fire inside the church. He later died from a self-inflicted wound.
Authorities credited the locked classroom doors and swift police response for preventing even greater tragedy. Still, two children were killed, and more than a dozen others—ranging in age from 6 to 15—were injured.
Among those wounded was Sophia Forchas, who suffered critical injuries. In a tragic twist, her mother—a pediatric critical care nurse at Hennepin Healthcare—was already at work treating victims from the shooting before she realized her own daughter was among them.
Family friends say the discovery left her devastated, yet she continued to assist in caring for others even as she awaited updates on her child’s condition.
Sophia underwent emergency surgery and remains hospitalized in critical condition. Her recovery is expected to be long and uncertain.
As news of Sophia’s injuries spread, the community rallied. A GoFundMe page launched Wednesday night quickly surpassed its $150,000 goal by Thursday morning, with donations continuing to climb. By midday, the total had exceeded $250,000.
Organizers of the fundraiser say the money will help cover medical costs, trauma counseling, and living expenses for the Forchas family. Thousands of donors left messages of love, prayer, and encouragement.
“This family has given so much to others through their work and faith,” one donor wrote. “Now it’s time for us to give back to them.”
The shooting has sparked vigils across the Twin Cities. Candles and flowers now line the steps of Annunciation Catholic School, where classmates and parents have gathered in prayer circles each evening.
The Forchas family are members of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, where parish leaders have organized prayer services specifically for Sophia’s recovery. “We are lifting her name to God every day,” Father Timothy Sas told parishioners.
Faith leaders of all backgrounds have joined in solidarity, calling for healing and urging communities to come together against violence.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar both attended a vigil at the Cathedral of St. Paul, offering condolences to the families and pledging action to improve safety.
“This is a day of mourning for Minnesota,” Gov. Walz said. “But it must also be a day of reckoning. These children deserved better.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the incident “an unthinkable act of terror against children” and urged unity in the days ahead.
Doctors say Sophia’s recovery will require time, multiple treatments, and extensive rehabilitation. Her younger brother, who was at school during the attack, escaped physical injury but is receiving counseling after witnessing the chaos.
For now, the Forchas family is leaning on their faith and the support of their community. “We know Sophia is a fighter,” one relative said. “She is surrounded by love, and we believe she will pull through.”
The Annunciation Catholic School shooting has left deep wounds, but it has also revealed extraordinary acts of courage and compassion—from teachers protecting their students to first responders who risked their lives to confront the gunman, to neighbors who immediately began organizing support for the victims’ families.
As Minneapolis mourns, candles continue to burn outside the church, and one message has become a refrain: Sophia Forchas is not alone.
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