A quiet Wednesday morning in Minneapolis turned into a nightmare when gunfire erupted inside the Annunciation Catholic School and Church.
The attack, carried out by 23-year-old Robin Westman, left two children dead and 17 others wounded.
Moments later, Westman turned the gun on herself, ending the rampage.
The community is now grappling with the tragedy while disturbing details about the shooter’s state of mind are beginning to surface.
Troubled Writings Before the Attack
Court records show that Westman, who was born Robert before legally changing her name in 2019, had long been wrestling with her gender identity.
In a manifesto shared online before the shooting, she admitted feeling regret and confusion.
“I am tired of being trans, I wish I never brain-washed myself,” she wrote.
Westman explained that her long hair had become a symbol of her identity but confessed she resented it, even hinting that she might cut it off on the day of the attack.
Conflicted Identity and Mental Struggles
Her handwritten notes revealed an ongoing battle with identity.
Westman admitted she didn’t fully feel like a woman but also couldn’t identify as a man.
“I don’t want to dress girly all the time but sometimes I like it. I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man,” she wrote.
These words painted a picture of someone spiraling, torn between appearances and internal conflict.
The Horror Inside the Church
The attack unfolded around 8:30 a.m. while children and parishioners were gathered.
Two young children, aged 8 and 10, were killed instantly.
Fourteen more children and three elderly church members were seriously injured, though authorities confirmed they are expected to survive.
First responder audio captured the frantic efforts to save lives.
One medic could be heard urging colleagues to “bring all the gauze you have,” while another confirmed over the radio: “Two DOAs inside the church.”
A Twisted Farewell on Video
Before the attack, Westman posted chilling videos to a since-deleted YouTube channel.
In one 20-minute clip, she displayed her firearms, ammunition, and a so-called “kill kit.”
The footage also revealed her fascination with previous school shooters, disdain for President Donald Trump, and mocking remarks about the church she would later attack.
She also left a letter addressed to her family and friends.
In it, she claimed to be dying of cancer from vaping, writing: “I did this to myself as I cannot control myself.”
Final Words of Despair
Her farewell note, signed “Robin M. Westman, 2002–2025,” suggested the shooting was meant to be her last act.
“Unfortunately, due to my depression, anger and twisted mind, I want to fulfill a final act that has been in the back of my head for years,” she admitted.
The manifesto and videos also showed magazines inscribed with the names of past school shooters and even one cartridge chillingly labeled: “For the children.”
What Investigators Are Looking At
Authorities are now piecing together what led Westman to carry out the massacre.
Investigators are combing through her writings and online activity to understand the mix of regret, rage, and obsession that drove her to kill.
For the grieving families and the Minneapolis community, the painful question remains: how could so many warning signs lead to such devastating consequences?
