This undated photo provided by Tom Forchas in September 2025 shows his daughter, Sophia Forchas, who was wounded in the Church of Annunciation shooting in Minneapolis, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Tom Forchas via AP)
This undated photo provided by Tom Forchas in September 2025 shows his daughter, Sophia Forchas, who was wounded in the Church of Annunciation shooting in Minneapolis, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Tom Forchas via AP)
This undated photo provided by Tom Forchas in September 2025 shows his daughter, Sophia Forchas, who was wounded in the Church of Annunciation shooting in Minneapolis, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Tom Forchas via AP)
This undated photo provided by Tom Forchas in September 2025 shows his daughter, Sophia Forchas, who was wounded in the Church of Annunciation shooting in Minneapolis, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Tom Forchas via AP)
Neurosurgeon says there are ‘rays of hope鈥 for girl critically hurt in Minneapolis church shooting
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) 鈥 There are 鈥渞ays of hope鈥 for a 12-year-old girl critically injured in last week鈥檚 deadly shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, though her neurosurgeon cautioned Friday it is still hard to predict whether she will survive.
This undated photo provided by Tom Forchas in September 2025 shows his daughter, Sophia Forchas, who was wounded in the Church of Annunciation shooting in Minneapolis, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Tom Forchas via AP)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) 鈥 There are 鈥渞ays of hope鈥 for a 12-year-old girl critically injured in last week鈥檚 deadly shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, though her neurosurgeon cautioned Friday it is still hard to predict whether she will survive.
Sophia Forchas was the most seriously wounded child among those who survived after a shooter opened fire at the on Aug. 27. The church was from the affiliated Annunciation Catholic School who had of the academic year. Two students were killed, and 21 people were injured.
The shooter died by suicide, police said.
Sophia remains in intensive care at Hennepin Healthcare, a trauma hospital that has treated many of the victims. Her neurosurgeon, Dr. Walt Galicich, said at a news conference that a bullet, which remains lodged in her brain, caused severe damage, including to a major blood vessel. Surgeons had to remove the left half of her skull to relieve the pressure inside her head.
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鈥淚f you had told me at this juncture, 10 days later, that we鈥檇 be standing here with any ray of hope, I would have said it would take a miracle,鈥 Galicich told reporters. He said they are banking on the ability of young brains to heal and make up for the damage.
Sophia is still being kept in a medically induced coma most of the time to control the swelling, Galicich said. She is opening her eyes and showing some level of awareness of her surroundings, and has some slight movement in her right leg, but she鈥檚 still not responding to commands, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 day by day, and I can鈥檛 tell you how this is going to end,” the doctor said. “I know she鈥檚 had a stroke from that injury to that blood vessel. I don鈥檛 know what her permanent deficits are going to be. But we鈥檙e a little bit more optimistic that she鈥檚 going to survive.鈥
The girl’s father, Tom Forchas, called her 鈥渕y precious angel.鈥
鈥淪ophia is kind. She is brilliant. She is full of life,” Forchas said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 an innocent child who was attacked while in prayer. Words cannot begin to describe the terror and heartbreak that come with learning such devastating details.鈥
Forchas said Sophia’s 9-year-old brother was also in the church but wasn’t hit. He paid tribute to his wife, Amy Forchas, a who has not left their daughter’s side. He also expressed deep gratitude to Sophia鈥檚 care team and to the support his family has received from around the world.
鈥淪ophia has received prayers from across the globe,” he said. “It is nothing short of miraculous to know that millions of people have lifted her name in hundreds of millions of prayers. We have heard of prayers from Oslo to Johannesburg, from Sydney to Santiago, from Vietnam to Canada, from Mount Athos, Greece, to Minneapolis, Minnesota.鈥
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And Forchas said the courage, compassion and love of 鈥渆veryone who has helped us through this nightmare鈥 is helping to carry them through.
鈥淪ophia is strong. Sophia is fighting. And Sophia is going to win this fight for all of humanity,鈥 he said.
Also Friday, students across Minnesota and several other cities across the country staged walkouts to demand that state and federal lawmakers and high-capacity magazines. Many gathered at the state Capitol in St. Paul. The protests were organized by Students Demand Action, an arm of Everytown for Gun Safety.