In the wake of an unimaginable tragedy that has left a city cloaked in sorrow, the families of Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, have bravely stepped forward to share the beautiful memories of the children they loved and lost. Their voices, though heavy with grief, rise in a powerful, unified plea: remember our children for how they lived, not for how they died.
The two children were among the faithful gathered for a back-to-school Mass at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis when a lone gunman opened fire, a senseless act of violence that also left 17 others wounded. Now, as a community struggles to process the shock, the families have offered a portrait of two vibrant, joyful souls, aiming to replace the horror of the headlines with the light of their lives.
Fletcher Merkel was a whirlwind of joy and curiosity, a boy whose spirit could illuminate the darkest of rooms. His family remembers a child with an endless capacity for friendship and a storyteller’s gift for laughter. “Fletcher was the light of our lives,” his parents shared, their words a testament to a profound loss. “He had a way of bringing joy into every room he walked into. Our hearts are shattered knowing we will never again hear his laugh or see his smile, but we are holding tightly to the memories we have.”
Harper Moyski, at just ten years old, possessed a gentle wisdom and an adventurous heart. Her parents described a thoughtful and caring girl, deeply curious about the world around her. She found joy in the pages of books, the stroke of a pencil on paper, and in the simple act of helping others. “Harper had a gentle soul and an adventurous spirit,” her family said. “She was wise beyond her years, and her love will remain with us forever. We are devastated at the loss of our sweet girl.”
In their moment of deepest pain, both families extended their profound gratitude to the first responders, medical teams, and community members who raced into chaos to save lives. They also offered their heartfelt sympathies to all those injured and traumatized, acknowledging the wide circle of pain cast by the shooting.
The steps of the Annunciation Church have since become a sacred ground of mourning, covered in flowers, flickering candles, and handwritten notes of love and support. As the city holds vigils and community leaders call for unity and action, the families have made a simple request for privacy to navigate their grief.
But before retreating from the public eye, they issued a powerful message to ensure their children are never reduced to a statistic. “Our children were not statistics—they were our everything,” a family member said. “We ask that you keep Fletcher and Harper in your hearts, and remember them not for how they died, but for the beautiful lives they lived.”
Funeral arrangements for Fletcher and Harper will be announced in the coming days, offering a chance for a community to begin the long journey of healing together, forever carrying the memory of two beautiful lights gone too soon.