The father of one of the two schoolchildren killed in the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting called the attacker a "coward", as the bereaved parents urged the community to address the root causes of mass shootings.
Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, ten, died after 23-year-old Robin Westman fired shots through the windows of Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday.
A further 18 people, including 15 children and three people in their 80s, were injured.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, said: “Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us.
“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."
Harper Moyski’s parents described her as “a bright, joyful, and deeply loved ten-year-old" who was “adored” by her younger sister.
A statement from the family read: “We are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.”
Harper’s parents said that they were focused on healing in the wake of the shooting, but added that they hoped their daughter’s memory would fuel action that might prevent further mass shootings.
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