The 8-year-old killed in the tragic Annunciation Catholic School shooting Wednesday was identified by his father as Fletcher Merkel.
He was one of two children killed in the mass shooting in Minneapolis. The other was a 10-year-old whose identity has not been publicly released.
“Yesterday a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us. 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, Fletcher’s father, said at a news conference outside the school Thursday.
He said his son loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and sports.
“While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find healing,” Merkel said.
Fletcher was the second youngest of four children in his family, according to family spokesperson Blois Olson. He and his two older siblings were attending yesterday’s Mass, and the other two who were there were not injured in the shooting.
Merkel also shared prayers of healing for the other victim’s family, that all the wounded “are able to make a full recovery” and for the mental recovery for all those impacted.
“Over the past day, I’ve heard many stories accounting the swift and heroic actions of children and adults alike, from inside the church. Without these people and their selfless actions, this could have been a tragedy of many magnitudes more. For these people, I am thankful,” Merkel said. “Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life.”
He closed out his brief remarks saying: “Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you. Fletcher, you’ll always be with us.”
Fifteen other children, ages 6 to 15, were injured in the shooting, as well as three adult parishioners.
Two of the victims were in critical condition as of Thursday morning, a hospital official said.
The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.
Joseph Thompson, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, said Thursday that the suspect “idolized some of the most notorious school shooters and mass murderers in our country’s history.”
“More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children,” Thompson said. “The shooter was obsessed with the idea of killing children. Defenseless children.”
Authorities have said that Westman had three legally purchased firearms, a shotgun, a rifle and a pistol. More than 100 rifle rounds were recovered at the scene, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
Authorities also found three shotgun rounds and one live bullet that was trapped in a handgun after it appeared to have jammed, O’Hara said.
