Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, 10, died during the attack on the Annunciation Catholic school church
Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, 10, died during the attack on the Annunciation Catholic school church
An eight-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl who were killed in a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school have been identified by their parents.
Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, 10, died during the attack on the Annunciation Catholic school church on Wednesday morning, their parents confirmed. A further 17 people, 14 of them children, were injured in the shooting.
“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son, Fletcher, away from us,” Jesse Merkel said outside the school on Thursday, of the attack that police say was perpetrated by a 23-year-old former student who then killed themself after the shooting.
“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 that Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and “any sport he was allowed to play”.
He added: “While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find healing.
