Minneapolis, Minnesota — A week after a tragic mass shooting claimed the lives of two children and left 18 others injured at a Catholic church, disturbing details about the shooter’s life and premeditated actions are emerging. The gunman, identified as Robin Westman, 23, opened fire at the Annunciation Catholic Church on August 27 before taking his own life. Westman, who had deep ties to the church as a former student, had reportedly become fixated on the idea of attacking children.
In the years leading up to the tragedy, Westman’s personal life exhibited signs of turmoil. Following the divorce of his parents in 2012, Robin faced a challenging upbringing. Court documents revealed that his mother, Mary Grace Westman, had primary custodial rights, while his father, James Westman, gained custody on weekends. Police records indicate several incidents at their family home, including a welfare check in 2018 that was categorized as a mental health matter.
In 2019, Robin transitioned from Robert to Robin Westman with his mother’s support, reflecting his gender identity. Mary’s association with the Annunciation Church extended beyond family ties; she worked there for several years before retiring in 2021, just a few years before the attack.
In the summer of 2025, after another breakup, Westman moved in with a friend nearby. Reports suggest he visited the church multiple times in the weeks preceding the shooting, ostensibly to “reconnect with his faith.” However, interviews with community members later suggested a darker intention behind those visits.
Just 11 days before the shooting, Westman left his job at a local marijuana dispensary, an experience according to a coworker that had seen unsettling changes in his behavior. The coworker hinted that recent events may have fueled the violent intentions that culminated in the church shooting.
On the morning of August 27, Westman unleashed chaos just before mass began, firing over 100 rounds from outside the church. Authorities confirmed that two children, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, were killed, while many others suffered varying degrees of injury. Law enforcement officials emphasized that the church’s locked doors likely prevented even greater carnage.
In the wake of the shooting, investigators have uncovered a troubling pattern of animosity expressed by Westman. Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson noted that the shooter held contempt for various groups, suggesting that deep-seated hatred served as a significant motivator. Meanwhile, investigations are being conducted to determine if the crime qualifies as a hate crime.
Mary Grace Westman has yet to comment on the attack and has retained legal counsel, citing her distress over the situation. As Minneapolis grapples with the aftermath, the community is left to mourn the profound loss of innocent lives and confront the unsettling realities of violence that can fester beneath the surface.