A crowd gathered at an outdoor amphitheater by a lake in Minneapolis on Sept. 14 to celebrate the life of 10-year-old Harper Moyski and to call for efforts to reduce gun violence after a mass shooting at a Catholic school late last month.
Harper and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel were killed and 21 others were wounded when a former student entered the church at Annunciation Catholic School on Aug. 27 and opened fire. Authorities said the 23-year-old suspect was armed with a rifle, a pistol and a shotgun and fired more than 100 rounds through the church’s windows during a Mass. The suspect was later found dead of what investigators said appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
At the celebration of life, Harper’s mother, Jackie Flavin, described her daughter as “fierce, curious and funny” and said the family drew strength from the outpouring of support. "It felt as if we had been dropped at the bottom of an ocean where it’s pitch black and the pressure is crushing," Flavin said, adding that Harper “taught us how to be a light in the dark.” Speakers remembered Harper as a child who loved dogs, wanted to be a veterinarian and “didn’t water herself down.”
Friends and family used the gathering to express grief and frustration over recurring mass shootings in the United States, particularly those that target children. Several speakers urged attendees to commit to building a less violent society and to turn away from online acrimony. Rabbi Jason Rodich, an extended family member, appealed to mourners to seek connection in daily life, saying, "Turn just a little to the warm soul beside you. Do it for Harper. Do it for you."
Harper’s parents, Mike Moyski and Jackie Flavin, thanked those who attended the service and the many who have offered condolences and support since the shooting. In her remarks, Flavin called Harper “extra in the very best way,” and urged the community to carry forward the child’s spirit by showing up authentically and compassionately for one another.
The Aug. 27 attack reverberated beyond Minneapolis, coming shortly after another high-profile shooting elsewhere in the country that reignited national debate over gun safety and mental health. In Minneapolis, investigators have been piecing together the motives and movements of the suspect as the community seeks answers and accountability.
Organizers and speakers at the service emphasized mourning and remembrance while also urging practical steps to reduce violence, including community engagement and a reduction in the polarizing rhetoric that often follows mass shootings. The gathering combined personal memories with calls for social change, reflecting a community still coping with loss while seeking ways to prevent future tragedies.
Officials continue to provide updates to families and the public as investigations proceed. The celebration for Harper brought attention to the human cost of the incident and underscored renewed appeals from survivors, religious leaders and relatives for collective action to protect children and communities from gun violence.