America is mourning another tragic shooting, as two young children, aged 8 and 10 years old, were killed and 17 others were injured in a Minneapolis suburb. The shooting, which took place at Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday morning, occurred as students and faculty were participating in a Catholic Mass to mark the beginning of the new school year.
According to CBS News, the shooter, who was identified as Robin Westman, 23, died from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Annunciation Catholic School Principal Matthew D. DeBoer and Pastor Dennis Zehren wrote in a statement, “We are navigating an impossible situation together at this time. No words can capture what we have gone through, and what we will go through in the coming days and weeks. But we will navigate this—together.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz spoke on the shooting, saying, “I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.”
The cable news networks immediately went into breaking news mode, while the broadcast networks provided special reports of the unfolding situation.
(All times Eastern.)
ABC News
ABC News Live’s Kyra Phillips anchored an ABC News Special Report at 10:50 a.m. The network also followed up with special reports at 11:55 am and at 3:42 pm. ABC News’ streaming channel, ABC News Live, interrupted its programming at 10:21 a.m. with Diane Macedo anchoring the coverage.
CBS News
Anchors Nate Burleson and Kelly O’Grady delivered a CBS News Special Report at 10:30 a.m. The network also provided live coverage of the first press conference, anchored by John Dickerson, at 11:55 a.m. CBS Evening News’ Maurice DuBois anchored Thursday’s show from Minneapolis.
CNN
Anchor Pamela Brown broke the news at 10:22 a.m. during The Situation Room. The network announced that it is sending its correspondents and reporters to the scene, including Whitney Wild, Shimon Prokupecz, Alicia Wallace, Rob Kuznia, and Arit John. Meanwhile, CNN Newsource is sending Leigh Waldman, Joel Williams, Ivan Rodriguez, and Tessa Carletta.
Fox News
The network broke in with the news at 10:30 a.m. during America’s Newsroom. Correspondents Brooke Taylor and Nate Foy are heading to the region and will begin reporting live once they are in place.
MSNBC
Ana Cabrera was at the anchor desk when the network broke the news at 10:23 a.m. During the network’s coverage, Cabrera spoke to Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who was in Minneapolis at the time of the tragedy.
NBC News/NBC News Now
The network aired an NBC News Special Report at 11:55 a.m., anchored by Joe Fryer. For Fryer, the tragedy took on another layer as he has family in the area and his mother-in-law worked at the school. Over on its streaming channel, NBC News Now, coverage began at 10:30 a.m., simulcasting a live stream from its Minneapolis affiliate, KARE.