Shooter posted suicide note before opening fire at church

A tragic mass shooting in Minneapolis has left two children dead and at least 17 others wounded after a gunman opened fire during a school service at Annunciation Catholic School’s church. Authorities identified the attacker as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who later died by suicide after the assault.

According to police, Westman approached the church on Wednesday morning with three firearms — a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol — and began firing through the stained glass windows at children seated inside. Two children, ages eight and ten, were killed in the attack.

Fourteen other children and three adults were injured. Investigators also discovered that at least two of the church’s doors had been blocked with wooden boards, suggesting an attempt to trap victims inside.

“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and people worshipping,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said, describing the attack as an act of “sheer cruelty and cowardice.”

Troubling writings and contradictions

Hours before the shooting, Westman published a lengthy suicide note and videos on YouTube, which have since been removed. In his writings, he spoke of years of depression, suicidal thoughts, and a belief that he was dying of cancer from vaping.

“I was corrupted by this world and have learned to hate what life is,” Westman wrote, while also apologizing to his parents and siblings for the pain she would cause. he asked loved ones to “pray for the victims and their families,” yet in sharp contradiction, he showed off a rifle magazine labeled “For the children, hahahahahahaha.”

Westman admitted he knew his actions were wrong but claimed she could not stop herself. “I am not well, I am not right. I am a sad person, haunted by those things that do not go away,” he wrote.

The letter also contained political references, including a message scrawled on a gun part calling for the death of former President Donald Trump and others referencing past mass shooters.

Family ties and community response

Court documents reveal that in 2020 Westman legally changed her name from Robert to Robin, with her family covering the filing costs. Her mother, Mary, had previously worked at Annunciation Catholic School before retiring in 2021. In her writings, Westman also described confusion about gender identity, acknowledging that she did not fully feel like either a man or a woman.

As news of the tragedy spread, local leaders urged the public to remain focused on the victims. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey denounced attempts to use the shooter’s identity as a basis for prejudice. “Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community has lost their sense of common humanity,” he said. “Kids died today. This needs to be about them.”

A prayer vigil was held Wednesday evening, where clergy members, parents, and neighbors gathered in mourning. Archbishop Bernard Hebda joined the service, offering prayers for the children lost and support for the families affected.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to review the shooter’s online activity and examine the weapons used in the attack.