Mayor Mary Supple opened the Richfield City Council meeting on Sept. 9 with condolences for the community after a recent shooting at Annunciation Church and School and led members in a moment of silence for the victims.

"Our hearts are also with those who were injured and are still recovering from this terrible shooting as well as the families and staff as they process this tragic situation as the school year begins," Mayor Mary Supple said, and she named the two victims: "We offer our deepest condolences to the families of Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyeski." The mayor also thanked the Richfield police and fire departments for their response and support.

Council member Burke spoke afterward and reflected both on the tragedy and on community responses. "We saw it so clearly in the way the first responders reacted and how even children... showed compassion and courage in protecting each other," he said. Burke also urged state and federal policymakers to address what he described as imbalances related to constitutional rights that can make violence easier to occur: "I hope that the state and federal leaders can also show some compassion and courage and a a good measure of wisdom in finding a way to bring back some balance to some of the constitutional rights that make tragedies like this easier to occur."

Why it matters: The council's comments placed the shooting within the local community context and acknowledged emergency responders and victims as the school year began.

Ending: The council proceeded with its agenda after the moment of silence and the expressions of condolence; no formal resolutions or actions related to the shooting were taken at the meeting.