OAN Staff Sophia Flores
4:03 PM –Thursday, August 28, 2025
A boy named Fletcher Merkel has been identified as the 8-year-old victim in the fatal shooting at Minnesota’s Annunciation Catholic School.
Fletcher’s father, Jessie Merkel, made an emotional statement to the media on Thursday.
“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us,” his father said. “Because of their actions, 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.”
While his father blamed the transgender “coward” gunman for taking his son’s life, Jessie also expressed that the public should not focus on “how” his son died, but rather, on the positive qualities he embodied and the life he lived.
“Please remember Fletcher for the person he was, and not the act that ended his life,” Jessie stated. “Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you Fletcher. You will always be with us.”
His father concluded the press conference by praising his son’s classmates and teachers for heroically guiding others to safety.
“I’ve heard many stories accounting the swift and heroic actions of children and adults alike from inside the church,” he continued. “Without these people and their selfless actions, this could have been a tragedy of many magnitudes more. For these people, I am thankful.”
Fletcher was the third of four children in his family. Two of his siblings had attended the same fatal mass. However, they were fortunately not injured.
Merkel, 8, and another 10-year-old student, who has still not been identified, “were killed where they sat” in the pews during the school’s first Mass of the year.
The Merkel family expressed their hope that the loved ones of the other victim may one day find healing as well.
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