Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke to reporters at a press conference after at least five children were injured in a shooting Wednesday morning during the first week of classes at a Minneapolis Catholic school, authorities and a hospital said.

“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” Frey said at a press conference outside the school. “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”

The shooter opened fire with a rifle and struck children killing two and wounding 17 people in an act of violence the police chief called “absolutely incomprehensible.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter — armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol — approached the side of the church and shot dozens of rounds through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School just before 8:30 a.m. Police believe the shooter then killed himself.

The children who died were 8 and 10, and 14 other kids were among the wounded, the chief said. Dozens of youngsters were inside

AP video by Mark VanCleave