To Our Community, 

Last week was one of the most difficult in our area’s recent memory—especially for those mourning the tragic losses from the shootings in South Minneapolis. The weight of these events, especially the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church, is deeply felt here at Hennepin EMS. You never think it will happen in your community until it does.

And yet, in the face of unimaginable circumstances, our team responded with the skill, strength, and compassion we’ve trained for. What they encountered was harrowing. What they delivered was heroic.

Our dispatchers remained calm and steady as they spoke with victims in those critical moments before help arrived. Our crews reached the scene within minutes, and the first patient was en route to the hospital less than 10 minutes after the initial call. In total, more than 20 paramedic ambulances, along with command staff and medical directors, were on scene to provide expert care. 

We are incredibly proud of our team. They leaned into their training, administered care, and showed immense compassion. And yet, we wish with all our hearts that their skills hadn’t been needed under such circumstances.

Now that the immediate crisis has passed, our focus turns inward—to the well-being of our team. Their physical and emotional health matters deeply, and we are committed to supporting them through the aftermath. As the leader of HEMS, I carry a personal responsibility for every member of our team—a responsibility I hold with great care. In the coming days, we are bringing in support teams and trauma experts, holding regular debriefs, and checking in with one another. Emergencies may end quickly, but we know their impact can linger for years.

I’m grateful for the outpouring of support, for our first responder partners who stood shoulder to shoulder with us, and for the expert care provided by the Hennepin Healthcare team.

True heroism was absolutely on display during a day marked by senseless violence. We will continue to stand together, heal together, and serve together.

With respect and gratitude,

Martin Scheerer

EMS Chief – Sr. Director of EMS, Hennepin EMS

Martin.Scheerer@hcmed.org, 952-292-6555

We shared during our Hennepin Healthcare press conference about the unrecognized heroes who were at Annunciation Church that day. Many of those heroes are the school children who shielded others from flying bullets. It’s heartbreaking that they were ever placed in a position to take that kind of action. And yet, they did so without hesitation. Their bravery is something we can’t stop thinking about, and something our entire community should never forget. 

The teachers also showed extraordinary strength—protecting students, keeping them calm, and guiding them to safety outside the church. Teachers don’t sign up to be first responders, but on that day, they acted with the same bravery and resilience.

Finally, our partners at the Minneapolis Police Department responded with incredible urgency and professionalism. They entered the building without hesitation to ensure the shooter was neutralized and the scene was safe for our team to enter. Their immediate scene report—estimating up to 20 potential patients—was critical in helping us notify area hospitals and deploy the right resources.

Of course, there are many more heroes whose actions may never be publicly known. These are just a few whose bravery continues to stand out.

As mentioned earlier, our focus now shifts to the well-being of our team—especially their mental health. Pediatric calls tend to be the most emotionally taxing, and the impact of responding to traumatic events like the Annunciation shooting is rarely immediate. It tends to surface in the days and weeks that follow. Healing takes time, and we’re committed to walking alongside our team through it.

To support this, we offer access to Stillpoint Engage, a specialized provider of trauma-informed mental health care for first responders. In addition, we hold regular team debriefings and foster a culture of openness around mental health. Our team of peer supporters is part of that. Representing all areas of our EMS service, these individuals are trained to help each other cope with the unique challenges of the job and encourage seeking professional help when needed.

And a small but meaningful addition to our team last month was Rigsby, our EMS comfort puppy. He’s already bringing smiles and offering much-needed snuggles to our crews.

If you feel compelled to take action, there are meaningful ways to help. Consider donating blood to support Minnesota’s critical blood shortage—a simple act that can save lives.

You can also support the Hennepin Healthcare Foundation, which sustains our work as a Level I Trauma Center and Safety Net hospital. Your contributions help remove barriers to care, enhance the patient and family experience, and advance medical education, clinical research, and community health initiatives.