On Aug. 27, 2025, a shooter stood outside of Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis and opened fire through the stained glass windows. Children who had gathered for Mass during the first week of school dove for cover as bullets ricocheted off the pews. Older children shielded younger classmates with their bodies.

Two students were killed that day. Many other children and adults were wounded, some critically. Eight months later, the Annunciation community continues to heal from the grief and terror.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two parents and the principal at Annunciation about what recovery looks like — including how some parents are using their voices in the legislature and elsewhere to make sure no other children go through what their families experienced.

Guests:  

• Matt DeBoer is the principal of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. He moved to Minnesota in 2022 to serve as campus minister at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis after serving eight years as principal of a Catholic school in Seattle.
• Brittany Haeg is the mother of three children who attend Annunciation Catholic School. She is co-chair of the Annunciation Light Alliance, a nonprofit founded by Annunciation parents to ensure that children can learn, play and worship free from gun violence.
• Kristen Neville is in a blended family with five children who attend Annunciation Catholic School. She is founder and co-chair of the Annunciation Light Alliance.