Minneapolis residents and relatives gathered Sept. 14 to celebrate the life of 10-year-old Harper Moyski, one of two children killed when a gunman opened fire during a Mass at a Catholic church on Aug. 27.
At an outdoor amphitheater by a lake, Harper’s mother, Jackie Flavin, remembered her daughter as sharp, curious and unafraid to be herself, saying Harper “didn’t water herself down.” Speakers at the event urged attendees to respond to grief by working toward a less violent society and to support one another in the aftermath of the attack.
Flavin told the crowd that community support had buoyed the family during what she described as a period when it felt “as if we had been dropped at the bottom of an ocean where it's pitch black and the pressure is crushing.” She described Harper as someone who loved dogs, wanted to be a veterinarian and ‘‘taught us how to be a light in the dark.’’ Flavin said Harper was "extra in the very best way," noting the child "didn't do anything halfway. Always choosing the premium versions, always going for the extra scoop."
Harper and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, both students at Annunciation Catholic School, were killed and 21 others were wounded when authorities say 23-year-old Robin Westman, a former student, fired more than 100 rounds through the church’s windows while Mass was under way. Investigators said Westman was armed with a rifle, a pistol and a shotgun and was later found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot.
Speakers at the memorial expressed frustration that mass shootings, particularly those that take the lives of children, continue to occur. The gathering came four days after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk while he spoke at Utah Valley University, an event that renewed national attention on gun violence and public safety.
Rabbi Jason Rodich, an extended family member, urged mourners to resist the ‘‘acrimony of social media’’ and to turn toward one another for comfort. "Turn just a little to the warm soul beside you," he said. "Do it for Harper. Do it for you."
Organizers and speakers emphasized the importance of community solidarity and practical support for survivors and families of the victims. Flavin and other relatives thanked neighbors, first responders and church members for their immediate assistance and ongoing outreach.
Local authorities have continued investigations into the Aug. 27 attack and into the circumstances that led to the shooting. The deaths and injuries prompted renewed calls from some community leaders for policy measures and interventions aimed at reducing gun violence, while others focused on expanding mental health resources and strengthening local support networks.
The memorial drew a cross-section of the Minneapolis community, including schoolmates, clergy and civic leaders. Attendees stood together beside the lake for moments of silence, readings and personal recollections of Harper, whose family asked that people remember her for her spirit and individuality.
As the gathering closed, speakers repeated appeals for collective action to prevent further tragedies and for neighbors to offer one another kindness and attention in everyday life. Flavin said Harper taught her family to “show up exactly as you are,” a message she urged the crowd to carry forward.