Reprinted by permission from Eric Hanson

A tale of two young ladies, similar situations, two different and drastic outcomes. Same topic – gun violence.

On August 27, 2025, shots rang out early in the morning just after Catholic mass started at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. One of the victims, Sophia Forchas was shot in the head and rushed to HCMC and placed in a coma. Yesterday she came home to warm welcome.

This past weekend, October 19th, 2025 at approximately 12:20 am, 18-year-old Kimber Mills was with friends, hanging out at bonfire just having a good time when a 27-year-old man shows up. Details are still forthcoming but from reports from witnesses the 27-year-old showed up unannounced and was harassing people. How and why is not yet public, but obviously the situation escalated into violence and the 27-year-old pulled out a gun and started shooting and then fled the scene, only to be arrested later.

Four people were shot, the shooter fled. A 21-year-old man reportedly used his own body to shield others from harm and was shot 10 times and is expected to make a full recovery. A 20-year-old woman, and an 18-year-old man were also shot, their names and condition have not been released.

And then there was 18-year-old Kimber Mills. A senior, a cheerleader, a young woman who, as I was told by someone close to her, wanted to go to college to be a nurse. A young woman, who in all the photos I have seen, always had a smile on her face. She was also shot in the head and rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, there was a much different outcome.

On Tuesday, October 21st 2025, after being told there was zero brain activity, Kimber’s family made the painful decision to terminate life support. Before that happened, in accordance with Kimber’s wishes, her last act on earth was to still help others through organ donation. In a video shared online by her sister, Kimber’s honor walk showed more than just hospital staff. The hallways were packed shoulder to shoulder with her friends, classmates, teachers, and members of the community. According to the hospital staff it was the largest turn out for an honor walk they have ever seen, indicating just how loved Kimber was.

Someone asked me why do I care about these strangers? I can’t really answer that. I guess it’s called empathy. As many of you know, I am nerd and I love Star Trek and there is a line from one of those episodes that says, “Maybe if we felt any loss as keenly as we felt the death of one close to us, Human history would be a lot less bloody.” I am also reminded by another line from a different show. “Why? Why are the innocent punished? Why the sacrifice? Why the pain? There aren't any promises. Nothing's certain. Only that some get called, some get saved. She won't ever know the hardship and grief for those of us left behind.”

So, as I write this, what is the answer? I don’t know. I know some will have very strong points of view, which I won't debate at this time, I just don't have the energy. I don’t own firearms, but when I was pursuing a career in law enforcement I trained with them, I’ve shot them, I know the cardinal rules of gun safety. I know in years past schools had pistol and rifle teams well before I was in school and I don’t recall mass shootings back then.

Maybe conflict resolution was better back then? I remember times when if you had a problem with someone you settled it out in the school yard and sometimes ended up with either a bloody nose, lip, or black eye. Regardless of who “won” the fight, the honorable rule was you shook hands and called the dispute over.

Anyway, that’s my rant.

Sophia – welcome home.

Kimber – Rest in Peace, you deserved better.