Girl shot in head during Minneapolis church massacre making ‘miraculous’ recovery

A 12-year-old girl shot in the head during the Aug. 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis is making a steady recovery, according to an update from Hennepin Healthcare on Monday. Sophia Forchas remained hospitalized after emergency surgery, with her family saying, "Sophia is winning!" and "Your prayers are working." The health system said the girl is showing progress in neurological function and remains under intensive medical care as clinicians plan next steps in her recovery.

The mass shooting, which occurred during the first morning mass of the new school year, left two children dead and multiple others injured. Police identified the shooter as Robin Westman, who fired dozens of rounds into the church, shattering stained-glass windows and pews as students and parishioners ducked for cover. Two children, Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, were killed, and 18 people — 15 of them children — were injured. The Forchas family, longtime members of St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis, have said their daughter’s survival is a miracle and have spoken of the long healing journey ahead.

According to a Facebook post from St. Mary’s, Forchas went into surgery immediately after being critically injured and then endured a difficult and lengthy operation. Her neurosurgeon, Dr. Walt Galcich, said a bullet lodged in the seventh-grader’s head caused extensive damage, a detail AP reported as part of the medical briefing shortly after the incident. In the most recent update, the family said she has continued to make "steady progress" and has shown signs of neurological recovery. Doctors remain "cautiously optimistic" as her care shifts from acute treatment at Hennepin County Medical Center to an inpatient rehabilitation program. Though the road ahead includes extensive therapy, the family said Sophia’s resilience continues to inspire hope at every step, asking supporters to keep praying as she moves forward in her recovery.

The family released a statement through Hennepin Healthcare expressing gratitude to the medical staff and to the wider community. They said, "We are humbled by the countless individuals across the globe who have lifted her up in prayer, including His All-Holiness Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV." They added that their extended family, the Orthodox Church, and the Annunciation school community have provided tremendous support, and they urged continued prayers for peace and progress. The family noted that Sophia’s younger brother was inside the school during the attack but was not injured, and they highlighted the mother’s occupation as a pediatric critical care nurse who was at work at Hennepin Healthcare when she learned her daughter was among the injured. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist the family as they navigate Sophia’s care and rehabilitation.

As investigators continue to review the incident and the community processes its trauma, officials have emphasized the need for ongoing support for those affected. The shooting, which wounded or killed several people connected to the church and its school, has prompted renewed discussions about security and trauma care in places of worship and education. In Minneapolis, the local faith community has organized vigils and prayer gatherings, with hospital and school officials stressing the importance of coordinated medical and spiritual support for survivors and families.

Sophia’s mother remains at the center of the family’s gratitude and concern, balancing her role as a nurse with the urgent demands of caring for a critically injured daughter. Health officials say the coming weeks will be critical as Sophia undergoes intensive rehabilitation to regain motor skills, balance, and cognitive function. Her doctors have cautioned that progress may be incremental and that setbacks can occur, but they have underscored the importance of steady therapy and family support.

The Forchas family closed their latest update by inviting continued prayers and by thanking the wider community for its outpouring of support. They wrote, "Pray for peace and when you pray, move your feet. Let us worship God together and walk forward in Faith, Hope and Love. Together, we can create a better tomorrow." In the meantime, the Minneapolis community continues to mourn the loss of two children, while extending its efforts toward healing for those who survived and for the city grappling with the aftermath of the shooting.