Minneapolis Shooting Victim’s Father Speaks; CDC Faces Leadership Shakeup
UPDATE: The father of a victim from the recent mass shooting at a Minneapolis church speaks out as the community mourns the tragic loss. Fletcher Merkel, just 8 years old, and Harper Lillian Moyski, 10, were killed during a school Mass at Annunciation Church on September 27, 2023. The shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire before taking his own life.
In an emotional statement, Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, urged the public to remember his son for the joy he brought to the world, not the violence that took his life. “I will never be able to talk to my son or watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming,” he said.
Authorities report that Westman had previously attended the church and school, but no specific grievances have been identified. The community is grappling with the aftermath of this horrific event, and experts are providing guidance on how to discuss school shootings with children.
Meanwhile, a significant leadership change at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is making headlines. Jim O’Neill has been appointed acting director following the ousting of Susan Monarez, who served less than a month. Monarez’s attorneys claim her dismissal was due to her refusal to support “unscientific” directives. O’Neill, a controversial figure with strong libertarian views, has no medical or scientific background, raising concerns among lawmakers, some of whom are calling for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign.
As the nation processes these two significant events, the emotional impact on families affected by violence and changes in public health leadership could be profound. Communities are urged to come together to support one another in these challenging times.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
