Investigators say that the attacker who opened fire on pupils as they were praying at a church in Minneapolis was obsessed with the idea of killing children.
Robin Westman, who killed two children and injured 18 others, did not seem to have any specific motive, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara.
The attacker appeared to hate all of us, the chief said on Thursday, adding: More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children.
The murdered children have been identified by family as Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, 10.
Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us, his father, Jesse Merkel, told reporters.
Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play, he said.
Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You'll always be with us, he continued, choking back tears.
The parents of Harper Moyski, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, said in a statement that their daughter was a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter, kindness, and spirit touched everyone who knew her.
Officials have released few details so far about the suspect's background, but say Westman previously attended the church's school and had a mother who had worked there.
The 23-year-old suspect is believed to have approached the side of the Annunciation Church, which also houses a school, and fired dozens of shots through the windows using three firearms. Police also found a smoke bomb at the scene.
Witnesses have described seeing children bleeding as they fled from the church, begging for help from strangers.
In a news conference on Thursday, acting US Attorney General for Minnesota Joseph Thompson said the shooter expressed hate towards many groups, including the Jewish community and towards President Trump.
US officials have warned for years that mass shooting can lead to copycat killings, as killers seek to become famous through their heinous crimes.
Several major news organizations have a policy of not identifying mass killers. Chief O'Hara urged the media to refrain from using the killer's name to avoid giving them notoriety.
The shooter was reported to have left a note, and while officials are still investigating, they fear the full understanding of the attacker's motives may never be revealed.
In the wake of the attack, the community and parents are pressing for discussions on gun control legislation, underscoring a repeated call for preventative action against gun violence.
