On the morning of August 27, 2025, a tragic mass shooting during a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis shattered what was meant to be a hopeful start to the school year. The incident claimed the lives of two children—8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski—and injured around 18 others, most of them young students.

One of the critically injured was 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, a seventh-grade student who was rushed into emergency surgery. Her condition remains grave, as medical teams continue efforts to stabilize and treat her life-threatening wounds. Sophia’s injuries have drawn wide public attention, symbolizing the broader toll this event has taken on the community.

In a devastating twist of fate, Sophia’s mother, a pediatric ICU nurse at Hennepin County Medical Center, was already at work when the victims began arriving. As part of the emergency response team, she was actively treating incoming patients—unaware that her own daughter was among them.

Only as more children arrived at the hospital did the reality dawn on her. The emotional weight of discovering her child among the critically injured underscores the deeply personal trauma felt by so many in the wake of this senseless violence.

The Minneapolis community has responded with an outpouring of grief and support. Online fundraisers, including several GoFundMe pages, have quickly gathered donations to assist with Sophia’s medical expenses and to help her family during this traumatic time.

In the aftermath, residents and local leaders are calling for urgent action to address gun violence and mental health support. This heartbreaking event has reignited debate over school safety and prevention measures, with many insisting that thoughts and prayers alone are not enough to prevent future tragedies.