On the 27th (local time), the U.S. flag at the White House in Washington, D.C., flew at half-mast. President Donald Trump ordered the flag to be lowered to half-staff to mourn the victims of a shooting incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where a gunman opened fire on students attending Mass at a Catholic church, resulting in the death of two children and injuries to 17 people, including two adults.
According to Reporter Ryu Jeong-min from News1 in Washington, President Trump issued a proclamation ordering half-mast as a tribute to the victims of the indiscriminate act of violence.
As a result, flags will be flown at half-mast at all public buildings and grounds, military bases, and naval vessels until sunset on August 31.
Before the half-mast order, President Trump posted on Truth Social, stating he had been briefed on the tragic shooting incident and that the FBI was responding. He expressed that the White House would continue to monitor the situation and asked for prayers for all those involved.
According to Reuters, AFP, and local police, around 8:30 a.m. that day, a gunman in his early 20s fired a rifle at students attending Mass at a Catholic school in southern Minneapolis, Minnesota’s largest city.
As a result, two children aged 8 and 10 died, and 17 people, including two adults, were injured, with two in critical condition.
The shooter took his own life immediately after the shooting.