MINNEAPOLIS — A growing memorial of flowers, stuffed animals, and handwritten prayers sits outside Annunciation Church this week as families, parishioners and strangers alike come together to mourn and support one another after the deadly shooting inside the parish.

Some have direct ties to the victims, while others have none.

Many said they wanted to honor the students, teachers and church staff who worked to protect children during the violence.

“There aren’t words to describe this,” said Ellie Mertens, a youth minister at Annunciation who was inside the church during the shooting. “I, like everyone else here, cannot get through this alone. We need each other to hold one another up more than ever before.”

Mertens was one of many staff members who helped kids out of the church after t

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