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An eight year old boytragically killed in a horrific school shooting during Mass has been identified as Fletcher Merkel. The young lad and a 10 year old girl lost their lives when Robin Westman, 23, unleashed terror by opening fire at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, before turning the gun on himself.

Seventeen individuals, including 14 children aged between 6 and 15, along with three parishioners in their 80s, were injured in the dreadful attack. Westman succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police reports.

In a heart-wrenching statement to NBC News, Fletcher's father, Jessie Merkel, condemned the "coward" killer for being the reason his family can no longer "hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming.

"Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sports that he was allowed to play," his grieving father shared with NBC News. "While the hole in our hearts and lives will never be filled, I hope that in time, our family can find healing."

Family spokesperson Blois Olson revealed that Fletcher was the third of four children. Three of the Merkel's four children were attending the Mass when the shooter opened fire; the other two were not injured, reports The Mirror.

Mr Merkel implored people to remember Fletcher for who he was, and not for the tragedy that prematurely ended his young life.

"I've heard many stories accounting the swift and heroic actions of children and adults alike from inside the church," he said. "Without these people and their selfless actions, this could have been a tragedy of many magnitudes more. For these people, I am thankful."

Detectives are now scrutinising a series of chilling posts and YouTube videos left by Westman, including footage expressing desires to assassinate Donald Trump.

Inscriptions scrawled on weapons and ammunition magazines belonging to the gunman include the names of previous mass killers such as Norwegian White Supremacist Anders Breivik and Adam Lanza, who perpetrated the 2011 Norway and 2012 Sandy Hook massacres, respectively.

Anti-Semitic epithets and anti-India messages were also scribbled on the firearms and magazines.

Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara confirmed the 23 year old was equipped with a rifle, shotgun and pistol.

"We don't have a motive at this time," he added.

Among the 17 wounded, 14 were youngsters aged between 6 and 15, whilst the three adults were elderly parishioners in their 80s.

All were anticipated to recover, O'Hara confirmed.

Investigators suspect Westman was a former pupil at the school, having been enrolled for at least a year, whilst his mother, Mary Grace Westman, was employed as a secretary there for five years before her retirement in 2021.

The firearms utilised in the assault had been legally acquired, Chief O'Hara revealed.

At least two entrances to the church had been blocked from outside, he stated. Ellie Mertens, 25, a youth minister at the church, was seated inside with the children when bullets smashed through the windows during a horrific shooting that lasted approximately two minutes, she revealed.

"I was just feet away from this window where it was," Ms Mertens said in an interview. "The pew saved my life."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated the tragedy could have been far worse without the quick thinking of courageous church staff.

"The way that they acted during severe threat and danger was nothing short of heroic," he declared during a press conference.

Staff members are reported to have ushered children beneath pews to protect them from the gunfire as the attacker entered the building.

Ellie Mertens, who was present in the sanctuary during the attack, explained she was sitting inside the church when shots began ringing out.

Head teacher Matthew D. DeBoer and other staff had an "instinctual" response and "instructed everyone to get down," Ms Mertens revealed.

"The pews saved lives and took a lot of bullets" throughout the gunfire as bullets bounced around the room.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed his agency was investigating the shocking incident as "an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics".

Authorities say Robin Westman had no significant known criminal background, operated alone and lawfully acquired the firearms recently. Federal officials described Westman as transgender, with the mayor condemning hatred aimed at "our transgender community."

Westman's gender identity remains unclear.

In 2020, a judge granted a petition from Westman's mother requesting a name change from Robert to Robin, stating the petitioner "identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification."