Morning Note

This year has been filled with gruesome stories about the killing of children. Minnesota became home to the latest on Wednesday.

A shooter opened fire through the windows of a Minneapolis church yesterday morning, whizzing dozens of bullets toward Catholic students and other worshippers as they prayed during a celebratory back-to-school Mass. The ruthless assault claimed the lives of two victims, ages eight and 10, and injured nearly two dozen others. Police say the culprit used three legal weapons and took his own life upon ending the attack.

"These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church. These are kids that should be learning with their friends, they should be playing on the playground,” the city’s mayor said. “This kind of act of evil should never happen, and it happens far too often,” he added.

Annunciation Catholic School’s website says its teachers “focus on Christian values and civic-mindedness.” Stories of children shielding their friends during the mayhem surfaced nearly immediately after its conclusion. 

Donald Trump ordered government buildings to fly flags at half-staff until Sunday.

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