Two children, aged 8 and 10, were fatally shot during a Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis on Wednesday, as the shooter, 23-year-old transgender individual Robin(Robert Paul) Westman, opened fire through the church's stained-glass windows from outside the building, injuring 17 others, including 14 children aged 6 to 15, and three adults in their 80s.
All injured victims are expected to survive, though several were in critical condition initially. Four children were discharged from Children's Minnesota hospital, with three still being treated there. The school community has announced a vigil for the evening.
“I believe all of them have their parents with them now. And they are all expected to survive all of the remaining victims are expected to survive,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told reporters.
The shooter, who had no prior criminal history and legally purchased the rifle, shotgun, and pistol used in the attack, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Authorities are investigating a manifesto and videos posted online by the shooter, which were timed to appear on YouTube and have since been removed.
The shooting occurred just before 8:30 a.m. local time during a school-wide Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church, which is located next to Annunciation Catholic School. The shooter fired a rifle through the church windows from outside, targeting children sitting in the pews. The attack was described as a "deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping."
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Here is a timeline of the Shooting.
Pre-Attack (Early Morning): Westman uploaded two videos to a now-deleted YouTube channel, one approximately 10 minutes long and the other 20 minutes, showing a notebook with gun schematics, handwritten notes, weapons, and ammunition. The videos included unsettling laughter, references to past mass shooters (e.g., Adam Lanza), and discussions of suicide and violent ideation.
8:15 a.m.: The all-school Mass begins inside the church, attended by students, staff, and parishioners.
8:27–8:30 a.m.: Westman, dressed in all black and armed with a semi-automatic rifle, shotgun, pistol, pepper spray, and a small smoke device (resembling a firework but non-explosive), approaches the church from the side. He begins firing through the stained-glass windows, targeting pews where children were seated. Some reports indicate doors were barred from the outside, trapping victims inside.
8:32 a.m.: The shooting ends as Westman takes his own life in the church parking lot.
8:45–9:29 a.m.: Police arrive, secure the scene, and issue an all-clear alert via the city's X account. Over 40 police vehicles and nine ambulances respond , with heavily armed officers searching the area.
The attack lasted about two minutes and was carried out alone, with no accomplices identified.
Victims are transported to Hennepin County Medical Center and other hospitals; four of ten patients (eight children, two adults) require surgery. Initial reports of explosives are debunked.
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The FBI has identified the shooter as a male born as Robert Westman, and legal documents show Westman applied to change their name from Robert to Robin M. in 2020, identifying as female. The shooter created a manifesto with "disturbing writings" and timed a video to appear on YouTube.
Police are executing four search warrants: one at the church and three at nearby residences related to the shooter, where additional firearms have been recovered. The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics. Minneapolis Jewish Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the attack and urged leaders to take action, stating that thoughts and prayers are not enough.
Meanwhile Frey is facing backlash for immediately attacking people who are pointing out online that Westman is a mentally ill transgender psychopath. "Anybody that is going to use this to villainize the trans community has lost touch with common humanity" he told CNN.
Critics slam Frey for focusing on the "trans community" instead of the Annunciation Catholic School community and Christians in general who face persecutions and violent attacks in the United States and globally.
A message from the Cardinal Secretary of State was read during a Wednesday night vigil expressing Pope Leo's thoughts on the shooting.
"His Holiness Pope Leo the 14th was profoundly saddened to learn of the loss of life and injuries following the shooting that took place at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, and he sends his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child,” said the message, which was read by Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda.
“While commending the souls of the deceased children to the love of Almighty God, his holiness prays for the wounded as well as the first responders medical personnel and wounded as well, and the clergy who are caring for them and their loved ones at this extremely difficult time," he added.
“His Apostolic blessing as a pledge of peace, fortitude and consolation in the Lord Jesus. My prayer for you, my brothers and sisters, is that you might experience that peace, that fortitude, and that consolation that Pope Leo desires for each one of us," the message continued.
Meanwhile the full text of Westman's manifesto has not been publicly released. Law enforcement authorities have confirmed the existence of a manifesto that was timed to be released on YouTube, which included disturbing writings, a handwritten letter addressed to family and friends, and a sketch of a church layout.
The manifesto, which has since been taken down, reportedly contained expressions of deep depression, suicidal ideation, and a desire for forgiveness, along with references to mass shootings, antisemitic sentiments, and political messages. Authorities are actively reviewing the content to determine the suspect's motive.
The manifesto began with the statement, “I don’t expect forgiveness … I do apologize for the effects my actions will have on your lives.”
It included a handwritten four-page letter where Westman wrote, “I was corrupted by this world and have learned to hate what life is,” and described being “severely depressed and have been suicidal for years.”
The letter concluded with a request for prayers for the victims and their families.
The manifesto also contained a diagram of a church interior that appears to match the layout of Annunciation Catholic Church.
The writings were partially composed in English using the Russian Cyrillic alphabet for words, and included references to mass shooters like Adam Lanza and Robert Bowers, and a message to “kill Donald Trump.”
The suspect also wrote, “In regards to my motivation behind the attack I can’t really put my finger on a specific purpose. It definitely wouldn’t be for racism or white supremacy,” claiming the act was for personal reasons.
In a suicide letter to his family, Westman wrote,
To My Family and Friends:
I don’t expect forgiveness and I don’t expect any apology I have to hold much weight, but to my family and those close to me, I do apologize for the effects my actions will have on your lives. Please know I care for all of you so much and it pains me to bring this storm of chaos into your lives. This will affect so many more people than the ones that are immediately involved.
To my Mother and Father, I am sorry I didn’t turn out as you had hoped. You did not fail me, you gave so much. I truly appreciate the love you have given me, I feel I was raised to be a good person. I’ve kept those traits of empathy, self-sacrifice, and great character. Please do not think you have failed as parents! I was corrupted by this world and have learned to hate what life is. Life is love, life is pain. There is too much to accept, too many things to put up with just to live. I’m tired of the pain this world gives out. Please move on and continue to give your loves to my brothers and sisters, and the rest of the world. They may not forgive you but you need to move on from me. Forget my life and the pain I’ve brought. I love you both. Thank you for everything. I’m sorry.
To my Siblings, I am sorry for forever tainting the rest of your lives. Your careers, lives, relationships, all will be turned upside-down. Please hold on to who you are, not who I am. Change your names if you must. I wish I could tell you that before I go. Please know that
I love you all and truly appreciate the time I have with you. I have such an amazing family and it hurts me to throw this such a wrench into the works. You good people, I feel hope when with you, I cherish our time together. I appreciate all that you have taught me and you are able to move you when I grew up. I hope without being forever on and continue your lives and your loved ones. I love that I am. Hold onto yourselves
And to my friends, I trust you all to give your appreciation and heartbreak see fit. I am sorry for helping me through dark times. I have had so many good times that gave me hope, unfortunately this world with too much pain to deal out that I can’t cover up on and forget the pain I’ve caused.
I have wanted this for so long. I am not well. I am not right. I am a sad person, haunted by these thoughts that do not go away. I know this is wrong but I can’t seem to stop myself. I am severely depressed and have been suicidal for years. Only recently have I lost all hope and decided to perform my final act against this world. I don’t want to kneel down for the mystics of this world. I want to die. I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees, constantly in pain.
You all are what keep me going, I find no more interest in anything material. I have only an interest in my mission and love for my family. If I didn’t have such an amazing group of people around me, I would have been gone much sooner. I just want to escape from this world. Escape from the constant bullshit jobs, shitty people, and injustice of America. I am done with this. I will not bow. I will be selfish and leave you to pick up the pieces. It’s my fault. Blame me, but please move on.
Whether you accept my apologies or not, I hope you all can move past this and continue your lives. Remember to be good people. Now more than ever the world needs more love, even if you don’t get it in return. Please find hope, find love, and stand up to injustice.
I love you all, I will remember you. Pray for the victims and their families.
I Love You
Dad, Mom, Jack, Martha, Theresa, Joe, Jared, Phil, Liam
•Robin M Westman 2002-2025 Robin Westman.
