A harrowing school shooting in Minneapolis has brought the name Robin Westman to the forefront of a national tragedy. The 23-year-old, identified as the suspect in the attack on Annunciation Catholic School, reportedly died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The massacre, which occurred during a back-to-school Mass, claimed the lives of two children and injured 17 other people.
The events leading up to the shooting and the subsequent police investigation have revealed a deeply troubled individual with a disturbing obsession with mass violence and a medley of chaotic political and religious grievances. This synopsis delves into the chilling details of Westman’s life, their admiration for past school shooters, and the bizarre mix of ideologies that seemingly fuelled this devastating act.
This act of premeditated violence, which saw two children fatally shot and 17 others injured, was not a random outburst. It was the culmination of a deeply disturbed fixation on mass shootings, particularly the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Westman’s admiration for its perpetrator, Adam Lanza, was explicitly documented in a handwritten journal or manifesto that was also featured in the videos. The New York Post reported a chilling entry from the journal: “I have a deep fascination with one man in particular: Adam Lanza.” In another entry, Westman wrote, “Sandy Hook was my favourite, I think, exposure of school shootings.”
The shooter also wrote, “If I carry out a racially motivated attack, it would be most likely against filthy Zionist jews.” This jumbled political landscape further complicates any single motive. Westman’s writings explicitly denied a political agenda, stating, “I don’t want to [do] it to spread a message. I do it to please myself. I do it because I am sick.”
The shooter’s identity has also been a subject of scrutiny. Court documents reveal Westman, formerly named Robert, legally changed their name to Robin in 2020 because they “identifies as a female.” However, the manifesto shows a person grappling with their identity. “I don’t want to dress girly all the time but I guess sometimes I really like it. I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man,” Westman wrote. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has urged against using this tragedy to "villainize our trans community," emphasising that the focus should remain on the victims and the root causes of gun violence.
This intimate connection to the location makes the attack even more disturbing. In the manifesto, Westman details the specific targeting of Annunciation, writing that it “seems like a good combo of easy attack form and devastating tragedy.” Westman ominously mused, “Maybe I could attack an event at the on-site church,” before concluding that a group of children from recess would be the best target.
The manifesto also contained a deeply personal and unsettling confession of suicidal and homicidal thoughts. “I have had thoughts about mass murder for a long time,” Westman wrote. They also expressed health concerns, writing, “I think I might have some prostate problems...Even if I can heal, I still just want to die and kill many people.” The attack was a premeditated final act, with Westman writing a desire to “take out a target of political or societal significance” before they died, mentioning targets like Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
Of the 19 victims, 14 were children between the ages of six and 15, and three were adults in their 80s. All of the surviving victims are expected to recover, though they will bear the physical and psychological scars of the day.
The aftermath has seen a collective call for action against gun violence. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey both spoke out, with Frey stating, “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”
The three weapons used in the attack—a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol—were all legally and recently purchased by Westman, who had no prior criminal record. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when a deeply disturbed mind gains access to firearms, turning a place of worship and learning into a scene of unimaginable horror.
The events leading up to the shooting and the subsequent police investigation have revealed a deeply troubled individual with a disturbing obsession with mass violence and a medley of chaotic political and religious grievances. This synopsis delves into the chilling details of Westman’s life, their admiration for past school shooters, and the bizarre mix of ideologies that seemingly fuelled this devastating act.
Who is Robin Westman: A loner’s manifesto and a lede of terror
The name Robin Westman is now etched into the tragic tapestry of American gun violence. Reports from the New York Post and CNN indicate that just hours before the attack on Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Westman released a series of unsettling videos. These clips, now under police investigation, showcased an arsenal of weapons, including a semi-automatic rifle and a shotgun. But it was the chilling messages scrawled on the gun magazines that captured immediate attention and set the lede for this horrifying story: “for the children,” “kill Donald Trump,” "Nuke India" and "Where is your God?” among other disturbing phrases.This act of premeditated violence, which saw two children fatally shot and 17 others injured, was not a random outburst. It was the culmination of a deeply disturbed fixation on mass shootings, particularly the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Westman’s admiration for its perpetrator, Adam Lanza, was explicitly documented in a handwritten journal or manifesto that was also featured in the videos. The New York Post reported a chilling entry from the journal: “I have a deep fascination with one man in particular: Adam Lanza.” In another entry, Westman wrote, “Sandy Hook was my favourite, I think, exposure of school shootings.”
Robin Westman's manifesto and online presence
Robin Westman’s manifesto and online videos reveal a confounding and contradictory mix of ideologies. While the messages “kill Donald Trump” and a sticker with a trans pride flag and “Defend equality” might suggest a certain political leaning, the picture becomes far more complex with the inclusion of antisemitic messages. One gun had “Israel must fall” scrawled on it, and the manifesto contained phrases like “filthy Zionist jews” and “burn Israel.”The shooter also wrote, “If I carry out a racially motivated attack, it would be most likely against filthy Zionist jews.” This jumbled political landscape further complicates any single motive. Westman’s writings explicitly denied a political agenda, stating, “I don’t want to [do] it to spread a message. I do it to please myself. I do it because I am sick.”
The shooter’s identity has also been a subject of scrutiny. Court documents reveal Westman, formerly named Robert, legally changed their name to Robin in 2020 because they “identifies as a female.” However, the manifesto shows a person grappling with their identity. “I don’t want to dress girly all the time but I guess sometimes I really like it. I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man,” Westman wrote. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has urged against using this tragedy to "villainize our trans community," emphasising that the focus should remain on the victims and the root causes of gun violence.
Echoes of a troubled past
The background of the shooter further deepens the tragedy. Westman was a former student at Annunciation Catholic School, having graduated from grade school there in 2017. Additionally, the shooter’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, worked as a secretary at the school until her retirement in 2021, according to a Facebook post by the church.This intimate connection to the location makes the attack even more disturbing. In the manifesto, Westman details the specific targeting of Annunciation, writing that it “seems like a good combo of easy attack form and devastating tragedy.” Westman ominously mused, “Maybe I could attack an event at the on-site church,” before concluding that a group of children from recess would be the best target.
The manifesto also contained a deeply personal and unsettling confession of suicidal and homicidal thoughts. “I have had thoughts about mass murder for a long time,” Westman wrote. They also expressed health concerns, writing, “I think I might have some prostate problems...Even if I can heal, I still just want to die and kill many people.” The attack was a premeditated final act, with Westman writing a desire to “take out a target of political or societal significance” before they died, mentioning targets like Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
A community in mourning
The shooting has left the Minneapolis community reeling. The FBI is now investigating the attack as an “act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics,” as confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel. The senseless violence occurred as children were celebrating Mass, with the shots being fired through the church’s stained-glass windows.Of the 19 victims, 14 were children between the ages of six and 15, and three were adults in their 80s. All of the surviving victims are expected to recover, though they will bear the physical and psychological scars of the day.
The aftermath has seen a collective call for action against gun violence. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey both spoke out, with Frey stating, “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”
The three weapons used in the attack—a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol—were all legally and recently purchased by Westman, who had no prior criminal record. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when a deeply disturbed mind gains access to firearms, turning a place of worship and learning into a scene of unimaginable horror.
