A 12-year-old Greek American girl in Minnesota – Sophia Fortzas – is fighting for her life after a shocking attack by a 23-year-old transgender individual during a service at a Catholic church. The attack occurred on Wednesday morning (8/27) at the Annunciation Catholic Church-school in Minnesota, claiming the lives of two minor children and injuring 17 others.
Minnesota: 12-year-old Greek American girl critical in ICU after attack
The attack at the Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation killed two children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Myoski, while 17 people were injured, including 14 children aged 6 to 15 and 3 elderly individuals.Among the wounded is Greek American Sophia Fortzas, as confirmed yesterday by Chicago Metropolitan Nathanael. Her family has created a GoFundMe stating she is “fighting for her life.”
The 12-year-old “was shot during the attack and is currently in critical condition in the ICU,” according to the fundraising page.“She has already undergone emergency surgery and her medical team is doing everything they can to stabilize her. The road ahead will be long, uncertain, and extremely difficult – but she is strong and she is not alone,” her family states.
Her brother was also present during the attack
“Adding even more pain, her younger brother was also there during the attack. While he suffered no physical harm, the trauma of witnessing such a horrific event — and knowing his sister was seriously injured — is something no child should ever have to experience.”
Her nurse mother learned about the attack when she came to help the injured
The girl’s mother, a pediatric ICU nurse, learned that her daughter was among the victims only when she arrived at work to help the wounded during the tragedy — “before even knowing that her children’s school was the one attacked and that her daughter had been seriously injured.“Her parents are by her side, keeping hope alive while simultaneously trying to support their son through the emotional aftermath he is experiencing.”
