The grief of a city is channeled through the broken voice of a father. Jesse Merkel stood before the world outside the wounded Annunciation Church, not just as a mourner, but as a beacon of love for his murdered son. “Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us,” he declared, his words etching the profound loss into the hearts of all who heard them. “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.”
His son, Fletcher Merkel, has been identified as one of the two young victims slain in Wednesday’s horrific mass shooting, a act of violence that pierced the sanctity of a morning mass. As students gathered in prayer, 23-year-old gunman Robin Westman allegedly opened fire with a rifle through a church window, unleashing chaos and unimaginable tragedy.
In the face of this darkness, Jesse Merkel chose to illuminate the beautiful life that was stolen. Fletcher was remembered not as a statistic, but as a vibrant, curious, and loving eight-year-old boy. His father painted a portrait of a child brimming with passion—a boy who loved casting a line while fishing, experimenting in the kitchen, playing sports with enthusiasm, and, above all, cherishing time with his family and friends. He was a child on a path to greatness, his potential extinguished in a moment of senseless violence.
Amidst his personal anguish, Merkel expressed profound gratitude for the heroes who emerged in the terror. He thanked the teachers, staff, and students whose swift and brave actions during the attack are credited with saving countless other lives. Their courage stands as a stark contrast to the cowardice of the act that brought tragedy to their door.
The community’s wounds remain deep and raw. As of the latest updates, one child continues to fight for their life in critical condition. Another child and one adult are hospitalized in serious condition, while more than a dozen others are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries, a testament to the scale of the violence that unfolded.
But for a grieving father, the final plea is one of legacy and love. “Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life,” Jesse Merkel urged, offering a powerful directive to a horrified public. In his message is a universal call to hold our own loved ones closer. “Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today.”
His final words, a promise to the son he must now bury, echoed with a love that transcends even death: “We love you Fletcher, you’ll always be with us.”