Minneapolis Catholic school shooter Robin Westman: What we know
Share and Follow

This story is developing. Refresh for updates.

() Authorities identified the shooter who opened fire during morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who legally purchased multiple firearms and left behind a “manifesto.”

FBI director Kash Patel said the organization is investigating the shooting “as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.”

“The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, a male born as Robert Westman,” Patel said.

The shooting took place during an all-school Mass at the Annunciation School, a private school on the south side of the city.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said he couldn’t confirm if this was an attack directed against Catholics. Officials said that the suspect acted alone, and a motive is still under investigation.

Mayor Jacob Frey urged against using the tragedy to target the transgender community.

Minneapolis school shooter scrawled anti-Trump, religious messages on rifle

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that certain phrases, including “Kill Donald Trump,” were written on one of Westman’s rifle magazines.

Investigators said the writings matched portions of a video “manifesto” posted online before the attack, which has since been removed by the FBI.

O’Hara confirmed there was “some sort of manifesto that was timed to come out on YouTube. It’s been taken down, and our investigators are going through that to try to develop a motive.”

In the video, the shooter films several guns, including a rifle and a pistol, for what appears to be a detailed, planned attack. The shooter also shows a bevy of bullets and gun magazines. 

Robin Westman is seen in a screen grab from a YouTube video. Authorities identified Westman as the shooter who opened fire during morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic School (Reuters)

The firearms and magazines had notes and drawings scrawled in a silver pen. 

One read “kill Donald Trump,” according to the Department of Homeland Security. Another had the names of other mass shooters. Some weapons and magazines also had racial and antigay slurs written.   

The shooter appeared to be fixated on guns and pans the video to an arsenal of weapons and firearms equipment, including used target paper and shooting gloves.

Minneapolis Catholic school shooter changed name at 17

Court documents reveal that at age 17, Westman’s first name changed from Robert to Robin.

The documents were filed by Westman’s mother and were signed by a judge on Jan. 15, 2020.

Police say Robin Westman died outside church

O’Hara said the shooter killed themselves in the parking lot outside the church.

“During the Mass, a gunman approached on the outside on the side of building and began firing a rifle through the church windows towards the children sitting in pews at the mass,” O’Hara said. “The sheer cruelty and cowardness of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.”

O’Hara said it appeared that most, if not all, of the shooting occurred outside the building. He also noted that the shooter had placed a 2-by-4 on the outside of a door on the side they were shooting from.

Robin Westman had no criminal record

O’Hara said the shooter, dressed in black, was armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, adding that he did not have a known criminal history. He added that it is unclear if the shooter was a former student of the school or an employee.

“We are looking through information left behind to try and determine some type of motive,” O’Hara said.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the app. Download it here.

What we know about the Annunciation School in Minneapolis

O’Hara said 19 people were shot, including two children, ages 8 and 10, who died at the scene. 

Other victims ranged from ages 6 to 15, along with several elderly adults attending the church service. 

Classes began on Monday for the school, which serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
SNAP food aid shutdown: Governor JB Pritzker signs order supporting Illinois residents who rely on SNAP benefits

Governor JB Pritzker Takes Action to Support Illinois Residents Amid SNAP Food Aid Shutdown

CHICAGO (WLS) — Governor JB Pritzker is preparing to endorse an executive…
Dishing With Diane: Kappy's American Grill on Dempster Street in Morton Grove

Discover the Ultimate Dining Experience at Kappy’s American Grill: A Morton Grove Gem on Dempster Street

The beloved segment “Dishing with Diane” has made its much-anticipated return, bringing…
'Orange Socks' killer haunts detectives 46 years after woman found dead

Unsolved ‘Orange Socks’ Murder Case Continues to Baffle Detectives 46 Years On

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) In Williamson County, Texas, the oldest unresolved case involves…
Videos show Sudanese commander Abu Lulu executing captives

Footage Emerges Allegedly Showing Sudanese Commander Abu Lulu Executing Prisoners

Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict reached new levels of brutality as a notorious…
West Milton Police, Ohio BCI and other agencies investigate a murder-suicide outside the West Milton Municipal Building, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

Tragic Air Force Incident: Community Struggles with Grief and Questions After Killings and Suicide

Editor’s Note: This article includes discussions about suicide, which some readers may…
Utah redistricting battle: Small city split into four congressional districts

Utah’s Redistricting Shakeup: Discover How a Tiny City Became a Political Battleground

Millcreek, Utah, with its population of 65,000, has unexpectedly become the focal…
Banks and retailers run short on pennies as the US Mint stops making them

U.S. Mint Halts Penny Production: Banks and Retailers Face Shortages

The United States is currently experiencing a shortage of pennies, a situation…
Illinois SNAP benefits November halt: Paying It Forward founder determined to provide free food despite her own struggles

Despite Personal Challenges, ‘Paying It Forward’ Founder Committed to Providing Free Food as Illinois SNAP Benefits Pause in November

In East Chicago, Indiana, the latest Paying It Forward community meal at…