What should have been a peaceful back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis turned into a nightmare when 23-year-old Robin Westman opened fire on children and families inside the church. Hours before the deadly attack, Robin released a chilling manifesto and disturbing videos on YouTube, signaling what was to come.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Robin fired a rifle through the church’s stained-glass windows after barricading the doors, targeting children seated in the pews. “He struck children and worshipers that were inside the building,” O’Hara said. By the end of the rampage, two children, ages 8 and 10, had been killed, and several others were injured.
Terrifying Accounts From Survivors
Children who survived the shooting described the chaos and fear. Ten-year-old Weston Halsne said he ducked under a pew as bullets sprayed across the church. “My friend Victor saved me… because he laid on top of me, but he got hit,” Weston told NBC affiliate KARE. He added that he hopes his friend recovers in the hospital.
Parents also recounted the horror. Danielle Gunter revealed that her 13-year-old son, Endre, was shot in the stomach while praying. “Our son was shot at school today, inside a church praying with his classmates,” she told CNN, adding that a first responder prayed with her son before rushing him to the hospital.
Another parent, Shea McAdaragh, sat in the back pews with his second-grade son when gunfire erupted. “I remember no screaming. I remember gunshots and silence,” he said, recalling how a nearby officer immediately ran toward the shooter.
The Shooter’s Manifesto and Disturbing Messages
Before the attack, Robin uploaded several videos online showcasing weapons and cartridge magazines covered with disturbing messages, including “for the children.” One clip revealed a handwritten four-page manifesto with personal messages to family and friends.
“To my Mother and Father, I am sorry I didn’t turn out as you had hoped,” Robin wrote. “Please do not think you have failed as parents. I was corrupted by this world and have learned to hate what life is.”
Other writings revealed struggles with depression, confusion about gender identity, and violent fantasies about attacking children. In one journal entry, Robin wrote, “I also love when kids get shot, I love to see kids get torn apart.” Another disturbing note described the school as a “good combo of easy attack form and devastating tragedy.”
Drawings found in Robin’s notebooks included what appeared to be a layout of the church, suggesting the attack was carefully planned.
Troubled Past and Family Ties
Robin, born Robert Westman, legally changed names in 2020 after identifying as female at age 17. Despite the legal change, Robin later expressed doubts about gender identity in journal entries, writing, “I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man.”
The suspect’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, previously worked at Annunciation Catholic School as a secretary for five years before retiring in 2021. Her connection to the school fueled online debates, with some commenters saying, “His mom is part of the problem.”
Robin was found dead inside the church from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The attack ended where it had begun: in the very school Robin once attended, graduating in 2017.
Community Response
School principal Matt DeBoer praised teachers and staff for their heroic actions, noting how quickly they protected students. “Children were ducked down, adults were protecting children, older children were protecting younger children,” he said. “This was a nightmare, but we call our staff the dream team.”
The massacre left a community shaken, mourning the lives lost and searching for answers. While Robin’s disturbing writings painted a picture of depression and hatred, many in Minneapolis are now turning their grief into calls for accountability and healing.
