Investigators search for motive in deadly Minnesota school shooting

(NewsNation) — Annunciation Catholic School successful Minneapolis remained closed Thursday arsenic officials continued to analyse a shooting that near two children dormant and 17 radical injured.

Police said a gunman approached the school's religion astir 8 a.m. section clip and began shooting into the building, arsenic children and adults gathered for Mass marking the commencement of the schoolhouse day.

The children killed were 8 and 10 years old, according to officials. All the injured parishioners are expected to survive.

"These beauteous children astatine Annunciation, they should not person to spell done this close now. They should beryllium learning mathematics and playing astatine recess and messing astir successful a cafeteria and playing with their friends. That's what puerility is about," said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

Minnesota gunman had 'manifesto,' but motive unknown

The shooter, identified by authorities arsenic 23-year-old Robin Westman, died connected the scene.

The weapons utilized successful the attack were legal, and weapon magazines had phrases specified arsenic "Kill Donald Trump" and "Where is your God?" written connected them, according to police.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Westman had “some benignant of manifesto that was timed to travel retired connected YouTube.”

He said the video has since been taken down, and that investigators are examining the footage to effort to find a motive.

Photos: Candlelight vigils held for Minnesota shooting victims

White House reacts to Minnesota shooting

President Donald Trump has not yet commented connected the reported messages referencing him, but helium called Wednesday's shooting "tragic" and ordered flags astatine half-staff until Sunday astatine sunset.

First woman Melania Trump besides weighed in, calling for much enactment to halt schoolhouse shootings.

“To forestall aboriginal tragedies, it is important we look into behavioral menace assessments crossed each levels of nine — opening successful our homes, extending done schoolhouse districts and of course, societal media platforms, she wrote on societal media. "Being alert of these informing signs and acting rapidly tin prevention lives and marque American communities safer.”

FBI Director Kash Patel called the shooting an "act of coercion and a hatred transgression targeting Catholics," though the Minneapolis constabulary main has said respective times determination has been nary decision connected a motive.