Authorities have identified the gunman who opened fire at a Minneapolis Catholic school on Wednesday morning, killing two children and injuring at least 17 others, as Robin Westman, a man in his early 20s, as reported by The New York Post.
The shooting took place around 8:30 a.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church and School, during a morning Mass celebrating the first week of classes. According to police, Westman fired multiple rounds through the stained-glass windows into the packed church.
Law enforcement sources told The New York Post that investigators are examining a series of disturbing YouTube videos posted hours before the attack that may be linked to Westman.
BREAKING: Alleged Minnesota Catholic school shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, reportedly identified as transgender.
His manifesto included pride flags and a gun with “kiII Trump” etched onto it. pic.twitter.com/EkPJ7BneVi
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 27, 2025
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One of the videos reportedly showed a hand flipping through pages of a red notebook placed on top of what appeared to be gun schematics. The pages contained illegible handwritten notes, while the person off-screen coughed, smoked, and giggled intermittently.
BREAKING: The Minneapolis shooting suspect has been identified as Robin Westman.
The alleged shooter released multiple videos on social media, which showed that he clearly hated Christians. They have since been taken down.
“Where is your God?” read one mag.
Evil monster. pic.twitter.com/oyiCkqNwkw
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 27, 2025
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Other videos displayed images of firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle and a shotgun, along with writings on ammunition magazines. Investigators confirmed that phrases such as “for the children” and “kill Donald Trump” were scrawled on the magazines.
The suspected Minneapolis church shooter, Robin Westman, had a now-deleted YouTube channel with videos showing guns, a manifesto in Russian and English, and a church map. His content displayed extreme views, including pro-Russian, pro-Trans, pro-Communist, and anti-Trump,… pic.twitter.com/ESMCBj4H6M
— Himanshu (@H_Singh1708) August 27, 2025
Authorities are also reviewing evidence of Westman’s obsession with previous mass shooters, including Adam Lanza, who carried out the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
Westman brought multiple weapons to the scene — a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun — before turning one of the firearms on himself. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound before police could take him into custody.
At a press conference Wednesday, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Westman was not previously known to law enforcement and had no record that flagged him to local authorities. “We have no prior history of interaction with this individual,” O’Hara told reporters.
Minneapolis Police Chief Provides Update On Catholic School Shooting
Brian O’Hare: “This is a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping.”https://t.co/Nfl7vTTAkN pic.twitter.com/fVlAj2wkuY
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) August 27, 2025
In total, at least 19 people were shot, with two children confirmed dead. Seventeen others sustained various injuries and were transported to local hospitals. Authorities have not released the names of the victims as families are still being notified.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with the FBI, is assisting local police in reviewing Westman’s possible manifesto and online activity.
Officials said it remains unclear whether the writings in the videos represent a coordinated plan or were simply erratic notes.
Robin Westman uploaded this Youtube short hours before the Annunciation Catholic School shooting in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/bnB0h2R7SJ
— Fred G. Sanford (@NotoriousKDot) August 27, 2025
The shooting has rattled the local community, especially since Annunciation Catholic School has fewer than 400 students and rarely sees outside attention. The investigation into Westman’s motives, digital footprint, and possible manifesto remains ongoing.
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