Smiles and hugs: Last hospitalized Annunciation shooting victim goes home
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Twelve-year-old Sophia Forchas was released from the hospital on Thursday, nearly two months after she was shot in the head at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis on Aug. 27. She is the final victim of the mass shooting to be discharged.
Her father Tom Forchas joined her as they exited a limousine at HCMC to visit staff there after her discharge from Gilette Children’s Hospital. Sophia wore a blue sweatsuit with a blue St. Paul Saints baseball cap. They were greeted by a cheering crowd, many hugs and gifts.
The Catholic Spirit, the news outlet for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, shared video of Sophia stepping out of the limo, walking, smiling, nodding and hugging people.
Dr. Walt Galicich, the chief of neurosurgery at Hennepin Healthcare who led Sophia’s care at HCMC, was in the crowd and hugged her and her father.
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After HCMC, Sophia visited the Annunciation school campus. Classmates, teachers and neighbors welcomed her back.
In the shooting a bullet lodged into Sophia’s brain, injuring critical blood vessels, and she was placed in a medically induced coma and part of her skull was removed to accommodate brain swelling.
During a press conference on Sept. 5, Galicich, the chief of neurosurgery at Hennepin Healthcare, said he was unsure “how this is going to end” but despite being in critical condition she was showing signs of a possible recovery.
“We’ve seen plenty of cases, especially in young brains, where the swelling is quite delayed and can get worse over time,” he said. “We're starting to get out of that worrisome window, but we’re not out of it yet.”
On Sept. 11 a Hennepin Healthcare spokesperson said Sophia was in “serious” condition, which was an improvement. Then, on Sept. 22, she transitioned to an inpatient rehabilitation program at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul.
Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski died in the mass shooting, and 28 other people including Sophia were injured. Eighth grader Lydia Kaiser, who was also shot in the head, had been released as of Sept. 6.
Sophia turns 13 years old on Oct. 25.
A verified GoFundMe for Sophia and her family raised more than $1.1 million as of Thursday.
The Forchas family also shared their thanks to the medical professionals and community for their support and prayers as Sophia continued her recovery, in an update posted on the GoFundMe page Thursday.
“Those prayers came from family, friends, and countless souls around the world; many of whom have never met Sophia, yet lifted her spirit with unconditional love,” the family wrote Thursday. “Your prayers have been a wellspring of comfort, hope, and healing for our entire family.
“Even in the midst of this profound joy, our hearts remain tender. We continue to pray for those whose lives were tragically lost on that heartbreaking day.”
Correction (Oct. 27, 2025): An earlier version of this story included an inaccurate number of victims of the Annunciation shooting. It has been updated.
