REID FORGRAVE

Minnesota Star Tribune

MINNEAPOLIS — The excitement of new beginnings seemed all around Wednesday morning at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis: The first week of the school year. A new principal, and a new priest at the adjoining parish.

Signs posted outside the church captured the mood: "A future filled with HOPE!"

Shea McAdaragh, whose oldest child is a second-grader at Annunciation, hadn't planned on attending the annual back-to-school Mass. At the last minute, he crept into the back pew behind the teachers, parents and students, some as young as 6.

Outside, near the parish's tiny wiffle-ball diamond, a 23-year-old shooter lurked.

The opening hymn began and the priest walked solemnly down the aisle.

Then a dissonant noise: Poppop-pop-pop.

Enjoying y

See Full Page