On the morning of August 27, 2025, a tragic shooting unfolded at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, claiming the lives of two children and injuring 17 others during a morning Mass. The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Authorities are now scrutinizing a series of chilling online videos and writings believed to be posted by Westman, which reveal an obsession with mass shooters and contain hateful messages, as they seek to uncover the motive behind the attack.
Deadly Attack Shocks Community
System: week of classes at Annunciation Catholic School, where the suspect was a 2017 graduate. Westman fired through the church’s windows, killing 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, and injuring 14 children aged 6 to 15 and three adults in their 80s. One child remains in critical condition, but the other victims are expected to survive. The suspect barricaded church doors with two-by-fours, trapping worshippers inside, before taking her own life.
Suspect’s Background
Robin Westman, born Robert Paul Westman, legally changed her name in 2020 to reflect her female gender identity, according to court records. Her mother, Mary Grace Westman, was a church employee from 2016 to 2021. Westman had no criminal history beyond minor traffic citations and briefly worked at a cannabis dispensary in 2025. The weapons used—a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, were legally purchased, police confirmed.
Disturbing Online Content
Investigators are analyzing YouTube videos posted by a user named “Robin W” on the day of the shooting, which were removed shortly after. The videos, some titled with Westman’s name, showed her displaying a handwritten notebook and firearms marked with racial and antisemitic slurs, including “6 million wasn’t enough” and “kill Donald Trump.” One magazine listed names of notorious mass shooters, such as Adam Lanza, with whom Westman expressed a “deep fascination.” The notebook, written in English, Cyrillic script, and some Russian, included a church layout diagram she stabbed while saying “ha, nice.” It expressed self-hatred, suicidal thoughts, and an obsession with school shootings, though Westman claimed the attack was not driven by racism but personal sickness.
Investigation into Motive
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the notebook a “manifesto” timed for YouTube release, aimed at revealing Westman’s motives. The FBI is investigating the attack as domestic terrorism and a potential hate crime targeting Catholics. Authorities recovered 116 rifle rounds, three shotgun shells, and one handgun round at the scene. Experts note similarities to other nihilistic shooters, suggesting Westman’s extremist references may have been misdirection. No specific grievance against the church was identified, though Westman had visited recently.
Community and Official Response
The attack stunned Westman’s neighborhood, where her parents were described as “wonderful” and “nice” by neighbors. A vigil drew hundreds, with Mayor Jacob Frey calling for gun control and urging against scapegoating the trans community. The church’s locked-door policy likely reduced casualties. Sheriff Chad Bianco emphasized ongoing efforts to locate evidence, with searches of three residences yielding additional firearms. The community mourns as the investigation continues to unravel the complexities of Westman’s motives.
