Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has responded following a shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis.
“I’ve been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information. The BCA and State Patrol are on scene. I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” he wrote on the X platform.
Police on the scene told CBS News that the shooter has been “contained.” CNN reported that the shooter was deceased.
Minneapolis police said there is no ongoing threat to the public but urged people to avoid the area of West 54th Street between Lyndale and Nicollet avenues. Families of students at the affected school have been directed to a reunification site at Annunciation School, located at 525 West 54th Street.
Multiple agencies, including the FBI, Minnesota State Patrol, and Minneapolis police, responded to the scene. Authorities have not yet released information on the number of victims, though some reports said there were several casualties after as many as 50 shots were fired.
Reports following the incident said that the shooter is dead after targeting children in Pre-K through eighth grade.
A man dressed in all black and armed with a rifle was reported at the scene,” the Richfield Police Department said in a statement.
School began on Monday, reports said, adding that students go to Mass around 8:15 a.m., where they were when the attack took place.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident, officials said, adding: “The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation.”
“I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The Minneapolis Police Department announced that there is currently “no active threat to the community” and confirmed that “the shooter is contained.”
“Stay away from the area to allow emergency personnel to help victims,” city officials added.
Footage from the scene on Wednesday showed parents escorting their children away from the school. Nearby residents told Fox 9 they initially did not report the sounds of gunfire, assuming it was construction or roofing work.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said “DHS is monitoring the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. We are in communication with our interagency partners, and will share more information as soon as it becomes available. I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families.”
CNN host Pamela Brown provided some information about the shooting despite the information coming in and changing by the minute:
We have some breaking news coming in. Minnesota‘s governor says he has been briefed on a shooting at a Catholic school this morning. I want to go live to CNN correspondent Isabel Rosales, who is following this. What are you learning? Isabel?
So this is a reported shooting at annunciation church. This is a Catholic school located in south minneapolis. I believe we do have a live feed right now. Live images from our CNN affiliate, wcco, where we can see yellow tape. The area has been blocked off. A large police presence. And at moments, we‘ve also seen agents with FBI vests walking around in the scene. We‘ve reached out to hospitals, we‘ve reached out to all sorts of law enforcement agencies trying to get more details. But this is what we have from the governor, Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, and Kamala Harris, former running mate. He said this I‘ve been briefed on a shooting at annunciation Catholic school and will continue to provide updates as we get more information. The bca, that is the bureau of criminal apprehension and state patrol are on scene. I am praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence. We also have this statement from the mayor of the city of minneapolis, Jacob Frey. He‘s saying this. I’‘m monitoring reports of horrific violence in south minneapolis. I am in touch with chief o‘hara and our emergency response team has been activated. We will share more information as soon as we can.
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