5 Things To Know About Robin Westman: MN Gunman ID’d After Opening Fire At Catholic School Mass

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Authorities have identified the gunman in Wednesday’s Annunciation Catholic School shooting in Minneapolis as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who took his own life after killing two children, ages 8 and 10, and injuring 17 others.

The attack came during an all-school Mass in the first week of classes, turning what should have been a joyful celebration into tragedy.

Here is what we know so far about Westman and the shooting at Annunciation:

1. Westman’s Background

Law enforcement sources told multiple outlets that Westman grew up in Richfield. Westman’s mother previously worked at Annunciation School, where the shooting took place.

Westman graduated from the school in 2017, according to CNN, citing a yearbook obtained by the outlet.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is investigating the shooting as "an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics."

"There were two fatalities, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old," Patel said. "The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, a male born as Robert Westman."

Court records indeed show Westman legally changed the birth name Robert to Robin in January 2020 at age 17.

In the petition, Westman’s mother wrote her child "identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification."

The Star Tribune noted that it's unclear what gender Westman identified with recently.

2. The Shooting at Annunciation

Just before 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, police say Westman fired dozens of rounds through the stained glass windows of Annunciation Catholic Church, striking children and families gathered inside for the first all-school Mass of the new year, which had begun only two days earlier.

An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old were killed in the pews. Seventeen other people were injured, including 14 children.

Police said Westman acted alone and later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the church.

"The coward who fired these shots ultimately took his own life in the rear of the church," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said.

3. The Victims

Police said two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed during the attack as they sat in the pews at Annunciation Catholic Church.

In addition, 17 other people were injured, including 14 children. Hennepin Healthcare said it is caring for 10 victims, with six children and one adult in critical condition. Two more children and another adult are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Children’s Minnesota also received multiple patients and urged families to avoid its Minneapolis emergency department unless in immediate need. Officials confirmed that two of the injured victims remain in critical condition.

4. Online Videos and Writings

Investigators are reviewing disturbing YouTube videos believed to have been posted by Westman hours before the shooting.

The clips show firearms, including a rifle and a shotgun, with magazines scrawled with the phrases "for the children" and "kill Donald Trump."

Other footage displays a red notebook filled with handwritten notes in English and Russian, along with references to other mass shooters.

5. The Aftermath and Community Response

Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the attack as "an unthinkable tragedy" and "a deliberate act against kids." He said, "The sheer cruelty and cowardice, firing into a church full of children, is absolutely incomprehensible," adding that "the coward who fired these shots ultimately took his own life in the rear of the church."

Mayor Jacob Frey said the city has set up a family assistance center for those impacted, urging residents to see the victims as their own children. Minneapolis City Council Members Emily Koski and Linea Palmisano called for compassion and thanked first responders for preventing even greater loss of life. Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also expressed grief.

President Donald Trump confirmed the FBI responded immediately and asked Americans to pray for the victims of what he called a "terrible situation."

Pope Leo XIV said he was “profoundly saddened” by the tragedy and offered his “heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness” to families. He commended the souls of the children to God, prayed for the wounded and first responders, and imparted his Apostolic Blessing on the Annunciation community and the Twin Cities as "a pledge of peace, fortitude, and consolation in the Lord Jesus."

READ MORE:

• 2 Kids Dead, 17 Others Injured In Shooting At Annunciation Catholic School Mass In Minneapolis
• Minnesota School Shooting Photos: The Heartbreaking Aftermath At Annunciation Church