Sophia Forchas Obituary: 12-Year-Old Victim of Annunciation School Shooting Remembered
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — With heavy hearts, the Minneapolis community is mourning the death of 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, one of the young victims of the tragic Annunciation Catholic Church school shooting that took place on August 27, 2025. After days of fighting for her life, Sophia passed away at Hennepin County Medical Center, surrounded by her family.
Sophia was among 20 children struck by gunfire when a former student opened fire through the stained-glass windows during a back-to-school Mass. While two classmates — Fletcher and Harper, both 10 — were killed at the scene, Sophia initially survived despite catastrophic injuries. She underwent emergency surgery after a bullet struck her head, but despite the tireless efforts of doctors and the prayers of an entire city, she succumbed to her injuries.
Her death has left her family, friends, teachers, and neighbors devastated. Sophia’s mother, a pediatric ICU nurse at Hennepin County Medical Center, spent her days and nights at her daughter’s bedside — a place she had so often stood for other families — now watching over her own child. Her younger brother, who adored her, is now grieving the loss of his sister and best friend.
A Life Full of Promise
Sophia will be remembered as a vibrant, creative, and compassionate young girl. She loved art and music, often filling sketchbooks with drawings and singing in the church choir. Her teachers described her as a natural leader in the classroom, someone who welcomed new students with kindness and made sure no one felt left out. Friends recall her quick smile, her playful energy on the soccer field, and her habit of writing encouraging notes to classmates.
Though only 12, Sophia had dreams of becoming an artist or perhaps a doctor, inspired by her mother’s work. Her bright spirit touched many lives, and her loss has left an irreplaceable void.
Community in Mourning
Vigils for Sophia have been held across Minneapolis, where residents continue to gather in prayer and solidarity with her family. Flowers, candles, and handwritten notes line the steps of Annunciation Catholic Church, where the shooting shattered the sense of safety in what was meant to be a place of peace and learning.
“Her light will never be forgotten,” one of Sophia’s classmates said at a vigil. “She was the kind of friend who made you feel special every single day.”
Faith leaders, city officials, and school staff have joined the Forchas family in calling for strength, healing, and unity as the community reckons with yet another act of senseless violence.
Honoring Sophia
Funeral arrangements for Sophia Forchas will be announced in the coming days. Her family has expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, prayers, and donations they have received, noting that every gesture of love helps them carry the unbearable weight of this loss.
The family asks that Sophia be remembered not only for the tragedy that ended her life but for the joy, creativity, and kindness she brought into the world during her 12 short years.
Sophia’s story now joins the heartbreaking list of children taken too soon by gun violence — a reminder of both the fragility of life and the enduring need for communities to come together in compassion and resolve.