Investigators say that 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 seem to have any specific motive, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara.
The attacker appeared to hate all of us, the chief said on Thursday, adding: More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children.
The murdered children have been identified by family as Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, 10.
Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us, his father, Jesse Merkel, told reporters. Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play. He added that Fletcher would always be with them, urging other parents to give their own children an extra hug and kiss.
Harper Moyski's parents described their daughter as a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old and expressed that they are shattered by the loss. They hope her memory fuels action against gun violence.
Officials have released few details so far about the suspect's background, but it was revealed that Westman previously attended the church's school and had a mother who had worked there. The shooter reportedly approached the church and fired dozens of shots through the windows using three firearms, with a smoke bomb also discovered at the scene.
Witnesses reported horrific scenes as children fled from the church, and the urgency for stricter gun control measures has grown among lawmakers including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who advocated for a ban on assault weapons in light of the tragedy.
The attack has been characterized as an act of domestic terrorism, with officials emphasizing the need for systemic change to prevent such violence from occurring in the future.
