The Vances paid their respects at a memorial outside the church. Photo: Alex Wroblewski-Pool/Getty Images
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance touched down in the Twin Cities yesterday "to convey condolences to the families of those affected by the tragedy" at Annunciation Church.
What happened: The Vances met privately with families of victims, including the parents of slain students Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, and Annunciation leadership, according to pool reports.
They also visited injured student Lydia Kaiser at a local hospital and called Weston Halsne, who was recovering from surgery after a bullet fragment was discovered in his neck.
What he's saying: Vance told reporters that he has "never had a day that will stay with me like this day did."
Kaiser's parents, Leah and Harry, spoke to the media after the meeting, and Harry, who is also the school gym teacher, said he asked Vance to pursue commonsense bipartisan legislation, per MPR News.
"Will you please promise me, as a father and a Catholic, that you will earnestly support the study of what is wrong with our culture, that we are the country that has the worst mass shooter problem?" Harry Kaiser recited from a note he read to the vice president.
Vance did not publicly weigh in on specific proposals to address school shootings during the visit, but said he hopes politicians can come together to take steps to reduce the violence.
