MINNEAPOLIS. Two children, ages eight and ten, were killed in a shooting at a Catholic school in the US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday, according to the AP, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara.

Seventeen people were injured, including 14 children, two of whom are in critical condition, O'Hara added.

According to him, the shooter committed suicide after the crime.

Footage from the scene showed a crowd of parents waiting for their children. Authorities urged the public to stay away from the area.

He shot at children during mass.

The children were attending morning mass at the church on the school grounds at the time of the shooting. The shooter, a man in his 20s, opened fire from outside the building through windows. He was armed with a pistol, a rifle and a shotgun. He later shot himself at the scene with the shotgun.

"I have been briefed on the Catholic school shooting and will continue to update you as we have more information. My prayers go out to our children and teachers whose first week of school was marked by this horrific act of violence," said Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz.

US President Donald Trump said he had been informed of the"tragic shooting" and that members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were at the scene.

"The White House will continue to monitor this terrible event. Please join me in prayers for all involved," the president added.

The private elementary school has about 395 students, according to the AP, and started the new school year two days ago.

There have been more than 140 shootings in American elementary and secondary schools this year, writes the AP, citing data from the K-12 School Shooting Database.