Two children who were killed in an attack on a Catholic school in Minneapolis have been identified by their parents as Harper Moyski, a "joyful" big sister, and Fletcher Merkel, who loved "any sport that he was allowed to play".
While celebrating Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church on Wednesday, both Harper, 10, and Fletcher, 8, were killed in a gun attack that also injured 18 people.
"Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us," his father, Jesse Merkel, said in a news conference on Thursday, adding: "Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life."
Harper's family said she was "bright, joyful, and deeply loved".
In an emotional statement to reporters, Mr Merkel said that because of the attack that killed Fletcher, "we will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming."
