Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has spoken out after the tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis. The attack happened during a morning Mass on August 27, and left two children dead and more than a dozen others injured. The incident has shaken the entire city, and voices from every corner of the community have called for change.
Minneapolis School Shooting: Cheryl Reeve Speaks Out After Tragedy
Cheryl Reeve Decries ‘Sickening’ Situation
The shooting unfolded when a woman entered the church premises armed with multiple weapons, including a rifle, shotgun, and handgun. She opened fire through the church windows as families, children, and parishioners gathered for worship. Two children — ages 8 and 10 — were killed, while 17 were wounded, including fourteen other children and elderly members of the congregation. Authorities confirmed that the shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, died by suicide at the scene. Investigators have not identified a motive, but they confirmed that Westman shared a “manifesto” on social media.
The attack has reignited debates over gun laws, school safety, and the culture of violence in the United States. Students, parents, and even athletes have spoken out in favor of stronger protections. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve did not hold back in expressing her anger and frustration. She decried the situation and described it as an “indictment of society.”
“It’s such an indictment of our society, our lack of regard for life,” she said. “There are things that we can do about it, and we don’t, but for some reason as Americans we value something different. It’s sickening, and sad for the kids. it’s sad for the kids that have to grow up like this. It’s sad for the kids to walk through the door and not know what’s going to happen.”
Cheryl Reeve Calls For Action As Bueckers Calls For Stricter Gun Laws
Reeve insists that authorities should take urgent action to help families and kids instead of doing nothing about the shootings.
“So, hearts go out to the lives lost, kids that are hurt, teachers that have to go through this, families that drop their kids off at schools and don’t have their kid come home. Hearts go out to them. The sad thing is we can’t sit here and tell them that help is on the way, because we’re not going to do a damn thing about it,” Reeve added.
Dallas Wings’ star Paige Bueckers also called for stricter gun laws in the aftermath of the tragedy. Just before the school attack, three people lost their lives in three separate shootings within about 13 hours. Earlier in June, another gunman went after the homes of two state politicians in the Minneapolis suburbs. The attack killed Democratic House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.
“I hope there are stricter gun laws put in place so parents don’t have to worry about sending their kids to school, people don’t have to worry about attending church and all these places are safe,” Bueckers said. “It’s just really unfortunate that gun violence continues to be an issue.”
The Minneapolis tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent national debate on gun violence, leaving families, communities, and leaders demanding real change.
© Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
