Pat Scallen had just counted his tenth gunshot when instinct told him something terrible was unfolding nearby. Following the sharp cracks, he rushed toward Annunciation Catholic School and Church, where a morning Mass was underway. What he found was chaos and heartbreak. A gunman had opened fire from outside the building, sending bullets shattering through windows and striking members of the congregation—many of them children.
Inside, worshippers scrambled for cover as screams filled the sanctuary. Scallen described seeing two children with head wounds and another bleeding heavily from the neck. Parishioners and staff tried desperately to tend to the injured before paramedics arrived, using clothing and towels as makeshift bandages.
Law enforcement quickly flooded the scene, securing the area and escorting survivors to safety. Police later confirmed the devastating toll: two children, just 8 and 10 years old, had been killed. Seventeen more people suffered injuries—fourteen children ranging from elementary to middle school age, and three elderly parishioners in their 80s who had been seated near the front rows.
Emergency crews worked rapidly to transport victims to area hospitals, while trauma teams prepared for an influx of patients. Counselors have since been dispatched to provide support for students, staff, and grieving families shaken by the attack.
Authorities have not yet released details about the shooter’s identity or motive but confirmed that the assailant is no longer a threat. The investigation is ongoing, with federal and state agencies assisting local police in gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
For the Annunciation community, the violence struck at the very heart of a place considered sacred and safe. Vigils are already being planned as families cling to one another for strength. As Scallen later reflected, what he saw inside the church is something he—and the community—will never forget.
