At Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, what began as another demanding ICU shift for one pediatric nurse turned into a nightmare when her own 12-year-old daughter was rushed in, gravely wounded in a school shooting that claimed two young lives.
On August 27, 23-year-old Robin (formerly Robert) Westman opened fire on Annunciation Catholic School, where students had gathered for morning mass. Before taking their own life, the shooter fired a rifle through the church’s stained-glass windows.
“What makes this so horrific is that these children were gunned down by someone who couldn’t even see them,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said, per CNN. He added that Westman, a former student of the school, “stood outside, shooting through narrow windows that lined up with the pews.”
Victims Identified
Authorities confirmed that 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski were killed. Another 15 students and three elderly parishioners suffered injuries, according to ABC News.
“No words are enough for what has happened, or what lies ahead. But we will face this together,” the Parish of the Annunciation shared in a statement.
Sophia and Her Brother
Among the most seriously wounded was seventh-grader Sophia Forchas, who sustained life-threatening injuries and required emergency surgery.
Her younger brother Anthony was also present during the attack. He was not physically harmed, but as a family GoFundMe notes, “the trauma of witnessing such horror – and knowing his sister was fighting for her life – is something no child should endure.” The fundraiser has raised over $683,000 in support of the family.
A Mother’s Devastating Discovery
Sophia, described as “bright, kind, and full of life,” was brought to the very ICU where her mother works. The GoFundMe explains that the nurse had rushed in to help with the emergency, not realizing her own daughter was one of the victims.
Father Timothy Sas of St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, the family’s longtime priest, confirmed the heartbreaking twist: “Sophia’s mother was called in to work and only discovered upon arrival that her daughter had been shot.”
“No priest is ever truly prepared to offer comfort in a moment like this,” Sas said. He spent hours with the family during Sophia’s surgery, later posting on Facebook that “she has come through a long, difficult procedure, but remains in critical condition.”
A Long Road Ahead
Sophia is still in intensive care. Doctors are working tirelessly to stabilize her, but her recovery will be long, uncertain, and incredibly challenging. Her family, community, and supporters remain by her side.
The attack at Annunciation Church has once again sparked urgent discussions about gun violence, school safety, and mental health. For the Forchas family, though, the focus is singular: helping Sophia heal and supporting each other through unimaginable trauma.