BREAKING NEWS: 12-Year-Old Sophia Forchas Released from Hospital After Surviving Minneapolis Church Shooting
Minneapolis, Minnesota — In a powerful moment of hope after heartbreak, 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, one of the youngest victims of the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School, has been released from the hospital following nearly two months of intensive treatment and rehabilitation.
The shooting, which took place on August 27, shocked the Minneapolis community and the nation. Two children were killed and more than a dozen others were injured when a gunman opened fire inside the church during the first week of the new school year. Sophia, who sustained a critical gunshot wound to the head, was among the most severely injured.
Doctors initially feared she might not survive. In the days following the attack, surgeons performed a lifesaving procedure, removing part of her skull to relieve brain pressure. Against all odds, Sophia began to show signs of recovery — a progress her medical team has described as “a miracle of resilience.”
On October 23, staff and families at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul lined the hallways to cheer as Sophia was officially discharged. Her journey home was emotional: escorted by police and greeted by banners reading “Sophia Strong,” neighbors, classmates, and hospital staff gathered to celebrate her courage.
Her parents, Amy and Tom Forchas, expressed deep gratitude to the community and medical teams in a heartfelt statement:
“To every individual who played a role in Sophia’s healing and recovery — thank you from the depths of our hearts. While her journey is not over, today marks a victory of faith, strength, and hope.”
Amy, a pediatric critical care nurse at Hennepin Healthcare, had been working at the hospital when her daughter was rushed in after the shooting. She later described the moment as “every parent’s worst nightmare.” Now, weeks later, she says seeing Sophia smile again feels like “a second chance at life.”
Doctors say Sophia will continue outpatient rehabilitation to help her regain speech and motor skills, but they are optimistic about her long-term recovery. “She has defied every expectation,” said one of her physicians. “Sophia’s spirit is extraordinary.”
The Forchas family continues to ask for prayers — not only for Sophia, but for the classmates, teachers, and families forever changed by the tragedy. “We celebrate her return home,” her father said, “but we also remember those who never made it back.”
As Sophia settles back into home life, her story has become a symbol of resilience for an entire community still healing. Though scars remain, her return stands as a beacon of hope — a reminder that even in the darkest moments, courage and compassion can light the way forward.
Sophia Forchas is home. And the city of Minneapolis is cheering her on.