😢 A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when a gunman opened fire during Mass, killing an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old and injuring 17 others, police say.
Before 8:30 a.m. local time, the shooter, armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, approached the school church and fired through the windows at students sitting in pews. Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara confirmed the attacker, a man in his 20s with no extensive criminal history, then took his own life inside the church.
Hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered flags at half-staff to honor the victims. The FBI was on the scene fast and now calls the case a domestic terrorism incident and a hate crime targeting Catholics, according to FBI Director Kash Patel on X.
This latest massacre adds to a grim tally: 44 school shootings in the U.S. so far this year (22 on college campuses, 22 on K-12 grounds), leaving at least 18 dead and 74 injured, per data from the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week and Everytown for Gun Safety.
The Gun Violence Archive also counts 286 mass shootings in the U.S. this year — defined as four or more people shot in a single event, excluding the shooter. For many everywhere, including here in South and Southeast Asia, it raises tough questions: why is gun violence so hard to curb, and what real solutions can stop these horrors?
In countries like Japan and Singapore, strict gun laws and strong community programs keep random shootings rare. Could the U.S. learn from these models? Or does a debate over the Second Amendment and cultural attitudes around guns make big changes almost impossible? 🤔
For young people juggling studies, careers and social change, this tragedy is a stark reminder: global violence affects us all, no matter the distance. Sharing knowledge, pushing for smarter laws and supporting mental health initiatives are steps anyone can take — from Delhi to Jakarta. 🌏✨
Let’s keep the conversation going and look out for one another. ❤️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
