Minneapolis school attacker ‘obsessed with idea of killing children’, officials say
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Investigators say the attacker who opened fire on pupils as they were praying at a church in Minneapolis was “obsessed with the idea of killing children.”
Robin Westman, who killed two children and injured 18 others, did not appear to have a specific motive, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
The chief added: “The attacker appeared to hate all of us. More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children.”
The children who were killed have been identified as Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, ten.
“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us,” Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, told reporters. “Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking, and any sport he was allowed to play. Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You’ll always be with us,” he added, choking back tears.
Harper Moyski’s parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, described their daughter as “a bright, joyful, and deeply loved ten-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.”
“As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain,” they said. “We hope her memory fuels action to stop gun violence. No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain. Change is possible, and it is necessary—so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies.”
