Suspect identified in Minneapolis church shooting at Annunciation

On August 27, 2025, tragedy struck Annunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis when 23-year-old opened fire during a morning Mass, resulting in the deaths of two children and injuries to 17 others.

The shooter, who later died by suicide, was identified as Robin Westman, born Robert Paul Westman, who legally changed her name in 2020 to reflect her gender identity

Raised in Richfield, Minnesota, Westman had a personal connection to Annunciation Church; her mother served as a parish secretary from 2016 to 2021. Westman herself graduated from Annunciation School in 2017. Despite these ties, law enforcement has not indicated any direct grievances with the institution.

Prior to the attack, Westman posted a series of videos and a manifesto online. In one video, she displayed firearms labeled with names of past mass shooters, including Adam Lanza and Brenton Tarrant. The manifesto contained violent, antisemitic, and politically charged messages, such as "Kill Trump" and "6 million wasn't enough," reflecting a warped worldview and admiration for previous perpetrators of mass violence.

Law enforcement officials emphasize the importance of addressing mental health issues and the potential dangers of online radicalization.

While Westman's gender identity has been highlighted in media coverage, authorities caution against drawing conclusions about the motivations of the attack based solely on this aspect.

The shooting has left the Minneapolis community in shock and mourning. Families and loved ones have gathered to support each other, and vigils have been held in honor of the victims. Local leaders have condemned the violence and called for increased efforts to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz have pledged support for the affected families and emphasized the need for comprehensive measures to address gun violence, mental health, and online extremism.

The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.