Father of 8-Year-Old Killed in Minneapolis Church Shooting Wants Him Remembered for His Love

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — As families grieve the lives lost in the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting, the father of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel is urging the community to remember his son for the joy he brought to others, not the violence that ended his life.

“Remember Fletcher for His Love”

Through tears, Jesse Merkel said his son should be remembered for the things that defined him:

“Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life,” Merkel said.

Fletcher, who loved family gatherings, fishing trips, and cooking, was one of two students killed when a gunman opened fire during a school Mass on August 27. 10-year-old Harper Moyski was also killed, and more than a dozen classmates were wounded.

Attack Details and Response

Police say the shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, fired 116 rifle rounds from outside the church’s stained-glass windows. Surveillance footage confirmed Westman never entered the building and could not see the children while firing.

Fifteen children between ages 6 and 15 were injured, along with three parishioners in their 80s. One child remains in critical condition. Westman later died by suicide at the scene.

Families Call for Change

While Fletcher’s family wants him remembered for his love, the parents of Harper Moyski are calling for action on gun violence and mental health.

“Change is possible, and it is necessary — so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies,” Harper’s parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, said in a statement.

Shooter’s Motive Under Investigation

Authorities recovered hundreds of pages of writings, videos, and weapons from Westman’s home. Officials said the shooter expressed hatred toward “almost every group imaginable” and had a disturbing fascination with mass killings.

The FBI classified the attack as domestic terrorism motivated by hate-filled ideology, citing threats against multiple religions and even political figures.

Community in Mourning

The Annunciation parish and Minneapolis community have held vigils honoring Fletcher and Harper. Families say children are struggling to process the trauma, with some showing signs of fear from loud noises or sirens.

As one parent of a survivor put it:

“It’s kind of impossible to wrap your head around how to tell an 8-year-old that her friend has been killed.”

The tragedy at Annunciation Catholic Church has reignited national conversations on school safety, gun laws, and mental health, but Fletcher’s father hopes that above all, his son will be remembered for his kindness, laughter, and love of life.

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