Minneapolis Catholic School Shooter’s Background Emerges Following Tragic Attack
In the wake of the devastating shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, investigators are piecing together the troubled life of Robin Westman, the 23-year-old who opened fire during morning Mass on Wednesday. According to search warrants obtained by police, Westman had recently experienced a breakup and was temporarily living with an older friend in St. Louis Park, having moved from an apartment in Richfield. The shooter’s father, James Westman, shared this information with authorities as they began their investigation into what motivated this horrific attack that left two children dead and 18 others injured, including more than a dozen children from the school.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the community as details about Westman continue to emerge. Born as Robert Paul Westman, the shooter underwent a legal name change to Robin M. Westman in 2019, according to court documents filed by mother Mary Grace Westman. Police discovered Westman dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, dressed in black tactical gear and carrying multiple firearms. Authorities confirmed that all three weapons used in the attack had been legally purchased by Westman, who had no prior criminal record. During searches of various properties connected to the shooter, police seized items including a tactical vest, computer drives, and miscellaneous documents from the father’s Minneapolis home, building a clearer picture of the perpetrator’s preparation.
The investigation has revealed concerning connections between the shooter and the targeted location. Westman had attended the church’s attached Catholic school until eighth grade, creating a personal link to the site of the violence. Mary Grace Westman, the shooter’s mother, reportedly worked at Annunciation Catholic Church, adding another layer of complexity to understanding the attack. Police Chief Brian O’Hara has indicated that the shooter posted what authorities are describing as “manifestos” online, which “appeared to show him at the scene and included some disturbing writing.” Disturbing videos posted under the name Robin Westman, later deleted from YouTube after the shooting, displayed handwritten notebook pages, weapons with painted messages, and concerning commentary.
As authorities work to understand the full scope of this tragedy, questions about potential warning signs have surfaced. Reports indicate that in 2018, multiple police departments, including Eagan police, responded to a mental health incident at a former address used by Westman. Minnesota does have an “Extreme Risk Protection Orders” program—commonly known as a red flag law—which can prevent individuals with mental health concerns from purchasing firearms. However, these protections require flagging by parents, prosecutors, or high-ranking police officials, raising questions about whether existing systems could have prevented this tragedy. The investigation into these previous encounters and potential missed opportunities continues as the community struggles to make sense of such senseless violence.
The investigation has extended beyond Minnesota, with federal authorities reportedly visiting a Florida condominium owned by Mary Grace Westman. Notably, deputies had visited the same address a day before the shooting for what police described as an unrelated welfare check involving a juvenile. According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Mary Westman told deputies that “the juvenile and the juvenile’s mother had previously lived there and were no longer residing with her.” Officials emphasized this incident was “unrelated to the shooter or shooter’s family.” The FBI has declined to comment on their activities in Florida, maintaining focus on the ongoing investigation into the church shooting.
As the community mourns the two young victims, ages 8 and 10, and prays for the recovery of those injured, questions remain about what could have been done to prevent this tragedy. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has stated that investigators have not yet spoken with Mary Westman, who has not cooperated with the investigation. Her lawyer, Ryan Garry, told media outlets that she is “deeply distraught” and not involved in the crime but has hired counsel to handle law enforcement and media inquiries. The community now faces the difficult process of healing while grappling with unanswered questions about how a former student could commit such violence against a place and people that were once part of their daily life, leaving families devastated and a community forever changed by an act of senseless violence.
