Emergency response teams at Annunciation Church in south Minneapolis following a mass shooting. © KARE 11
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![Enlarged view of emergency response at Annunciation Church]()
The incident began around 8:30 a.m. at Annunciation Church, 509 W. 54th Street, when an armed man reportedly dressed in black opened fire during a mass. Local police, supported by paramedics and specialized units, responded rapidly to the scene. While authorities have confirmed approximately 20 victims, details on their conditions remain limited.
Multiple sources told KARE 11 that the shooter is dead and that bomb squads are working to disarm multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the site. Among the casualties, three people are confirmed dead, including the shooter, and at least one victim is reported to be a young student.
Children’s Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, stated that five children were admitted for care, while Hennepin Healthcare, Minnesota’s largest emergency department, is also treating victims from the incident. Families of students at Annunciation School were directed to a reunification zone at 525 W. 54th Street.
Neighbor Bill Bienemann, who lives two blocks from the church, described the terrifying scene. “My daughter went to Annunciation School for nine years. When I heard the gunfire, I couldn’t believe it. It lasted three or four minutes and sounded like a semi-automatic rifle, not a handgun. There must have been 30 to 50 shots fired.”
Bishop Kevin Kenney, who leads St. Olaf Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis, went to Hennepin Healthcare Hospital to offer support to victims and their families. “It was horrific,” Kenney said. “I grew up in that parish, so it has personal meaning to me. But violence like this should not be happening. We need real solutions.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed he is closely monitoring the situation. “I have activated the city’s emergency response team in coordination with Police Chief Brian O’Hara,” Frey stated. He urged residents to allow officers the space to handle the developing situation.
Governor Tim Walz posted on social media that he has been briefed on the shooting and confirmed that BCA agents, State Patrol troopers, and Minneapolis police are on the scene. “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” Walz wrote.
Wednesday’s shooting comes amid a violent 24-hour period in Minneapolis, following three separate shootings on Tuesday that left three people dead and at least eight others wounded.
Authorities continue to investigate the motives behind the attack, while local law enforcement emphasizes that the shooter is no longer a threat. Emergency crews remain on-site, working to secure the church and assist victims.
