In south Minneapolis, a second-floor bedroom stands as a testament to a life halted prematurely. This room belonged to 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, one of the two victims of a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School on August 27, 2025. For his parents, Jesse and Mollie, it is a silent memorial to their son.
Jesse reflects, saying, “He’s not with us the way we want him to be, but this is the best we have.” For them, maintaining Fletcher’s room as it was is vital to preserving his memory. Mollie shares, “If the room’s not his, I feel like that memory — like I won’t feel it the same way.”
Photographer Lou Bopp alongside Steve Hartman, correspondent for CBS News, embarked on a project to document rooms like Fletcher’s in a Netflix short documentary titled “All the Empty Rooms,” which won an Academy Award last March. Hartman has visited eight such rooms, capturing the essence of lives interrupted.
I want people to maybe have a tiny glimpse of, ‘What if that was me?’
For Mollie, showcasing Fletcher beyond the tragedy is crucial. She recalls his love for bugs and animals, while Jesse remembers his constant energy. Photos from Fletcher’s room reveal worn-out shoes obtained weeks before his passing, a comforting blanketed corner, and cherished possessions like Legos, buffaloes, Green Bay Packers memorabilia, and his Cub Scout uniform. A garden dubbed “Fletcher’s Garden” thrives in his memory.
Fletcher’s journal contains playful entries, such as his successful plan to snatch cookies from the jar downstairs. This journal, along with other remnants, ensures his spirit lives on in his parents’ hearts.
Asked if sharing the experience of standing in Fletcher’s room with America could incite change, his parents affirmatively respond, emphasizing the need for awareness. Mollie states, “They have to feel it,” while Jesse implores, “As a human, you have to say this can’t happen to anybody else.”