School shooter's Nazi salutes, 'erratic' behavior revealed by ex-friend
Share and Follow


() A former friend says she noticed red flags in the Minneapolis school shooter’s behavior as far back as seventh grade, when the shooter did Nazi salutes in class and “verbally abused” friends.

Josefina Sanchez said she was friendly with Robin Westman, who killed two children and injured 18 other people Wednesday, when the two of them attended St. Agnes School in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“He was very erratic. Red flags all around but I didn’t know, because I was just in the seventh grade,” Sanchez said of her former classmate who attacked children and adults as they prayed at a Mass at Annunciation Catholic School.

“He would [Nazi] salute. He would write code and was very verbally abusive, like towards me, and his closest guy friends. Very verbally abuse.”

No signs of gender dysmorphia: friend of shooter

Westman was not bullied and fit in with the rest of his cohort in the seventh grade, according to Sanchez. She does not remember him as someone who got into trouble.

“I wouldn’t say like the most friendliest [sic], but he had a good side to him, and would talk to other people. So I don’t know where it could’ve come from,” she said.

Federal officials identified the shooter as transgender and court documents show the shooter changed their name from Robert to Robin at 17 years old.

Sanchez said she “never” saw any signs that Westman was struggling with accepting his gender at any point, and that it was traumatizing to realize she knew the shooter.

Shooter had ‘heart full of hate’

Westman died by suicide after opening fire on the church full of students. Investigators described the shooter as having a “deranged fascination” with previous school shooters and watching children suffer.

The shooter’s writings also described hatred toward other groups, and Joseph Thompson, the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, said the hate targeted “almost every group imaginable.”

“In short, the shooter appeared to hate all of us. The shooter’s heart was full of hate,” Thompson said.

“There appears to be only one group that the shooter didn’t hate, one group of people who the shooter admired. That group were the school shooters and mass murderers that are notorious in this country.”

Investigators are examining hundreds of pieces of evidence to determine why the gunman targeted Annunciation Catholic School.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Wells Fargo says to stock up on homegoods before prices jump in 2026

Wells Fargo Advises Consumers to Invest in Homegoods Ahead of Expected 2026 Price Surge

According to Wells Fargo, consumers should consider stocking up on home goods…
The Southern city defying America's housing market collapse

Southern City’s Resilient Housing Market Defies National Downturn

Once overshadowed by more prominent Southern cities such as Charleston, Atlanta, and…
Houston chemical leak: 44 treated after sulfuric acid leak at BWC Terminals industrial facility, Texad officials say

Houston Chemical Incident: 44 People Receive Treatment Following Sulfuric Acid Leak at BWC Terminals

A sulfuric acid spill at a southeast Texas industrial plant resulted in…
Africa’s Christian Crisis: How 2025’s deadly attacks finally drew global attention after Trump’s intervention

Africa’s Christian Crisis: How 2025’s Lethal Attacks Captured Global Focus Following Trump’s Intervention

JOHANNESBURG: As Christmas unfolds, millions of Christians in sub-Saharan Africa face threats…
Democrat charged with stealing $5m trolled for editing out luxury ring

Democrat’s $5M Theft Scandal: Social Media Erupts Over Edited Luxury Ring Photo

A Florida congresswoman from the Democratic Party has found herself under fire…
Italian authorities arrest 9 people who allegedly used charities to funnel more than $8m to Hamas

Unmasking Deception: Italian Authorities Dismantle $8M Charity Fraud Funneling Funds to Hamas

Italian authorities have apprehended nine individuals associated with three charitable organizations, alleging…
Florida bell ringer allegedly tries to 'impale' store manager with donation tripod while drunk

Florida Bell Ringer Accused of Attempting to Harm Store Manager with Donation Tripod in Alleged Drunken Incident

A Florida man employed as a Salvation Army bell ringer during the…
Christmas target practice turns deadly as stray bullet kills Oklahoma woman sitting on porch

Tragic Holiday Mishap: Oklahoma Woman Fatally Struck by Stray Bullet During Christmas Target Practice

An Oklahoma resident is now facing charges of first-degree manslaughter after a…