MINNEAPOLIS — A tragic incident at a Minneapolis Catholic school on Wednesday left two children dead and 18 others injured when an armed assailant opened fire during Mass. The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, was later found deceased in the church with a gunshot wound to the head, wearing black tactical gear and surrounded by multiple weapons.
Authorities responded to reports of gunfire at Annunciation Catholic Church shortly before 8:30 a.m. Law enforcement discovered a cache of firearms, including a Taurus semiautomatic pistol, a Mossberg shotgun, and a Magpul semiautomatic rifle. Preliminary investigations also revealed items that may have been intended for use as a smoke bomb, such as a wooden board with a gas container and a metal pull pin.
Westman’s family members reported that the suspect had recently experienced personal turmoil, including a breakup with a significant other. According to a search warrant, Westman had been living temporarily with a friend after breaking up and previously attended Annunciation Church, where family ties ran deep—Westman’s mother had worked at the school. A commercial van belonging to Westman’s father was parked behind the church and contained a visible rifle case.
As investigations continue, police have seized nearly 100 pieces of evidence, including personal items and electronic devices, from locations associated with Westman. A search of the father’s home revealed a tactical vest along with various documents and storage devices.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that Westman’s family has cooperated with the investigation. Authorities have been in contact with Westman’s mother, who is currently residing in Florida and has engaged a criminal defense attorney. Police clarified that Westman had no prior criminal record other than a traffic citation. Although the shooter was a transgender woman, officials noted that there were no previous indicators of mental illness or behavioral issues.
As the investigation seeks to establish a motive, disturbing online videos attributed to Westman surfaced, containing messages of hate, violence, and allusions to a deep-seated ideology. FBI officials labeled the shooting an act of domestic terrorism.
The tragic loss included two children, identified as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, alongside scores of others—mostly children—who were injured in the attack. Witnesses recounted seeing Westman skateboarding or rollerblading in the neighborhood prior to the incident, with police quickly sealing off the area the day of the shooting.
Law enforcement is continuing to explore any additional firearms linked to Westman, which may have been recovered from other residences linked to the suspect. This incident has sparked conversations about community safety, gun control, and how to effectively address underlying ideologies that contribute to such violent acts.