BREAKING: ‘Mass Casualty Event’ Reported At Catholic Church And School

Police have surrounded a church in Minnesota, the site of a horrific mass shooting, where parishioners are still running for cover and rushing to locate loved ones.

Early reports suggest several deaths and critical injuries near the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, which also serves as a Catholic K-8 school for the city. Local station KARE11 has reported two deaths and at least four victims in critical condition, according to FL Voice News’ Eric Daugherty.

Gunfire began to unfold around 8:30 a.m. local time. There may be as many as 20 victims, according to the outlet.

First responders have called for dispatchers to send a Mass Casualty Response and fire crews as they work to stanch the bleeding of victims. EMS crews from nearby North Memorial and Allina are assisting.

In addition, authorities say a bomb may have been placed inside the building. It’s unclear whether the device has been located yet or detonated.

Video from the outlet shows the entire 500 block of 54th Street shut down as a row of police vehicles arrived to secure the scene. Anchors with the station have described the shooting as a “mass casualty event.”

“There is no active threat to the community at this time,” the city of Minneapolis said in a post on X. “The shooter is contained.”

Gov. Tim Walz said he had been “briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information.”

“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” the governor said.

WATCH:

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was seen running into the scene as the terrified parents of children waited to see whether the shooting affected the Catholic school, which sits just hundreds of feet away from where the gunfire took place. The first day of school was just two days ago, the station reported.

“I’m monitoring reports of horrific violence in South Minneapolis. I’m in touch with Chief O’Hara and our emergency response team has been activated. We will share more information as soon as we can. Please give our officers the space they need to respond to the situation,” Frey wrote on X.

WATCH:

A pan of the area showed FBI agents on site as Minneapolis police officers established a perimeter and spoke with parents and other observers. A correspondent reported hearing one of the officers telling parents to stage at another location while authorities work to locate all children at the school.