MINNEAPOLIS (Gray News) - A Minneapolis father has identified his son as one of two children who died in Wednesday’s Catholic school shooting .

Jessie Merkel made an emotional statement on Thursday, calling the shooter a coward for taking the life of his 8-year-old son, Fletcher.

“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our 8-year-old son Fletcher away from us,” Merkel said. “Because of their actions, we will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, or play with him and watch him grow into a wonderful young man.”

Police said the other child killed in the shooting was a 10-year-old student at the Annunciation Catholic Church, but has not yet been named.

“While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time our family can find healing,” the father said. “I pra

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