MINNEAPOLIS – Devin O’Brien slipped into morning Mass a couple of minutes after it began. He sat next to his brother-in-law in back, his three kids in pews with classmates. Joy and excitement filled Annunciation Catholic School’s first student Mass of the new school year.
Some 400 people – students, teachers, older parishioners and a handful of parents – sang the opening hymn. It was about showing mercy to those in fear and casting hatred aside. They were about to stand and sing “Alleluia” when the first blasts rang out.
O’Brien immediately grasped what was happening: On the other side of the wall stood someone with an AR-15, intent on firing at these children in yet another horrific school shooting in America…