Investigators say that the attacker who opened fire on pupils as they were praying at a church in Minneapolis was obsessed with the idea of killing children.
Robin Westman, who killed two children and injured 18 others, did not seem to have any specific motive, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara.
The attacker appeared to hate all of us, the chief said on Thursday, adding: More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children.
The murdered children have been identified by family as Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, 10.
Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us, his father, Jesse Merkel, told reporters.
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, he said.
Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play.
Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life, he continued, choking back tears.
Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You'll always be with us.
The parents of Harper Moyski, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, said in a statement that their daughter was a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.
The family said that Harper's little sister 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.
They added that the family hopes her memory fuels action to stop gun violence.
No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain.... Change is possible, and it is necessary - so that Harper's story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies.
Officials have released few details so far about the suspect's background, but say she previously attended the church's school and had a mother who had worked there.
The 23-year-old suspect is believed to have approached the side of the Annunciation Church, which also houses a school, and fired dozens of shots through the windows using three firearms. Police also found a smoke bomb at the scene.
Witnesses have described seeing children bleeding as they fled from the church, begging for help from strangers.
In a news conference on Thursday, acting US Attorney General for Minnesota Joseph Thompson said the shooter expressed hate towards many groups, including the Jewish community and towards President Trump.
The attacker, who died at the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, left a note, officials said, but they added that a definitive motive may never be known.
I won't dignify the attacker's words by repeating them, they are horrific and vile, said Mr. Thompson.
Westman's name was legally changed from Robert to Robin in 2020, with the judge writing: Minor child identifies as a female. However, some federal officials and police have referred to Westman as a man when discussing the attack.
Chief O'Hara told reporters that news outlets should stop using the killer's name, because the purpose of the shooter's actions was to obtain notoriety.
The attacker had some deranged fascination with previous mass shootings, according to Chief O'Hara.
US officials have warned for years that mass shootings can lead to copycat killings, as killers seek to become famous through their heinous crimes.
Several major news organizations have a policy of not identifying mass killers.
FBI Director Kash Patel has described the attack as an act of domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology.
In a post on social media, Patel said that the attacker left multiple anti-Catholic, anti-religious references written on guns and in notes uncovered by investigators.
The killer also wrote an explicit call for violence against President Trump on a firearm magazine.
In their news conference, officials confirmed that the attacker had previously attended the school. Her mother, Mary Grace Westman, previously worked at the school, and has so far not responded to law enforcement's attempts to contact her.
They also confirmed that three residences associated with the attacker, who was from suburban Minneapolis, have been searched by police.
Authorities said the church locked its doors before beginning its Mass service, likely saving many lives.
Officials added that the guns used in the attack were all legally purchased, that the killer did not appear on any government watchlist, and that police are not aware of any mental health diagnoses or treatments that she was receiving.
Witnesses and relatives of victims who spoke to the BBC have described harrowing scenes of violence.
Patrick Scallen, a neighbor to the church, reported seeing children fleeing the building, including one girl who had been shot in the head, pleading for help.
Looking back, he remarked, She kept saying, 'please hold my hand, don't leave me', and I said I wasn't going anywhere.
Vincent Francoual, whose 11-year-old daughter Chloe was in the church during the shooting, reflected on the nightmare that has become reality for American families, where children must be trained to respond to active shooter situations.
In the wake of this tragedy, several local lawmakers have called for stronger regulations on firearms.
Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized the need to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, grounding his argument, There is no reason that someone should be able to reel off 30 shots before they even have to reload.
This tragedy raises profound concerns about gun violence and mass shootings in the United States, prompting urgent calls for action and reform.
