Archbishop Samuel Aquila of the Archdiocese of Denver and public officials across Colorado were shocked to hear of a fatal shooting at a Minnesota Catholic school on Wednesday morning, quickly denouncing the violence and calling for prayer.

While students and staff at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis were holding Mass, police said a gunman approached the windows of the church attached to the school building and opened fire. Two students, aged 8 and 10, were killed where they sat in the pews. Another 17 people were injured, 14 of whom are children. Authorities said two of those injured are in critical condition.

They said the gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the back of the church.

Police and first responders work at the scene of a shooting near Annunci

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