Minneapolis Catholic school shooter's life marked by chaos before mass killing: timeline

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A week after a crazed 23-year-old shot and killed two children and injured 18 more victims at a Catholic mass in Minneapolis, details about a chaotic personal life and a meticulously planned attack by a maniac who was “obsessed with the idea of killing children” have begun to unravel.

Robin Westman, formerly Robert Westman, committed the heinous act at the Annunciation Catholic Church the morning of Aug. 27 before committing suicide at the scene. As a child, Westman attended both the school and the church, which is located next door.

The years and months leading up to the unthinkable mass shooting appear fraught with chaos in the shooter’s personal life.

Annunciation school and church shooting scene

Police work the scene following a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School on Aug. 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Getty Images)

Aug. 28: Mary Grace Westman hires attorney

Mary Grace Westman has refused to cooperate with police in the wake of the attack, and has hired an attorney.

“She is completely distraught about the situation and has no culpability but is seeking an attorney to deal with calls like this,” attorney Ryan Garry told Fox News.

A memorial set up for victims of the mass school shooting at a Catholic school church.

Crosses, flowers and other mementos were placed by the sign at Annunciation Catholic Church at a memorial after Wednesday’s shooting at the school, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Abbie Parr/AP Photo)

While the shooter’s exact motive remains unknown, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joe Thompson said hatred aimed at everyone played a significant role.

“The shooter expressed hate towards almost every group imaginable. The shooter expressed hate towards Black people. The shooter expressed hate towards Mexican people. The shooter expressed hate towards Christian people. The shooter expressed hate towards Jewish people,” Thompson continued. “In short, the shooter appeared to hate all of us. The shooter’s heart was full of hate. 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.”

The FBI is investigating the mass shooting as a hate crime.

Mary Grace Westman did not return a comment request.

Fox News’ Michael Dorgan, Greg Wehner, Brooke Taylor, Stephanie Price and Greg Norman contributed to this report.