Pictured: Boy, 8, and girl, 10, killed in Minneapolis school shooting as 'shattered' families pay tribute
The two children killed in a school shooting in Minneapolis have been identified.
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Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, have been named as the two children killed during the attack at Annunciation Catholic School.
Robin Westman, 23, injured 18 others after opening fire with an assault rifle on the church on Wednesday morning.
The victims included children aged between six and 15, as well as three adults in their 80s.
Fletcher's father Jessie Merkel blamed the "coward" mass shooter Westman for why the boy's family can't "hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming".
"Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking, and any sports that he was allowed to play.
"While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find healing," he said.
The grieving father added that he prayed the family of the other victim would find peace.
"I've heard many stories accounting the swift and heroic actions of children and adults alike from inside the church," he added.
"Without these people and their selfless actions, this could have been a tragedy of many magnitudes more. For these people, I am thankful."
Harper's parents Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin said they have been left devastated by the loss of their daughter.
They said in a statement: "We are devastated to share that our beloved daughter, Harper Moyski, was tragically killed in the recent school shooting.
“Harper was a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.”
“Our hearts are broken not only as parents, but also for Harper’s sister, who adored her big sister and is grieving an unimaginable loss.
“As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.”
It comes as fresh details about the killer emerged.
Police said on Thursday that "more than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children".
"I won't dignify the attacker's words by repeating them, they are horrific and vile. But in short, the attacker wanted to watch children suffer," Minnesota's Acting Attorney General Joseph Thompson told a press conference.
Police chief Brian O'Hara said three shotgun shells were recovered at the scene, along with 116 rifle rounds and one handgun round that appeared to have malfunctioned as the killer attempted to use it before it became stuck in the chamber.
An officer ran into the church during the shooting, it has emerged, and a parishioner showed him where the shots were coming from.
"The parishioner later told me that it was the first time that he, the children and others there had any sense that they might be safe and survive," Mr O'Hara added.
He said additional lives were saved when members of the church learned the attacker intended to enter the building by barricading the doors on the side of the church.
"What's particularly heinous and cowardly about this is these children were slaughtered by a gunman who could not see them," O'Hara said.
He confirmed that the attacker had also previously attended mass at the Catholic church, adding: "So obviously there is a connection between the attacker and this particular parish."
Officials have so far been unable to speak to the killer’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, who is understood to have worked at the school.
There are three residences linked to the murderer, but investigators haven’t established where she was staying at the time of the shooting or who the killer was living with.
Court documents have revealed Westman's name was changed from Robert to Robin when the killer was 17.
