Minneapolis authorities confirmed that the person responsible for the attack that occurred on August 27, 2025 at Annunciation Catholic School was Robin Westman, 23 years old. The shooting occurred during an opening Mass at the church and school, located in the southern part of the city.
Westman entered the compound armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun and a handgun, according to local police. During the attack he fired indiscriminately at students and mass attendees, leaving two children dead and 17 people injured before he took his own life at the scene, The Washington Post reported.
Who was Robin Westman?
According to official records, Robin Westman had attended Annunciation Catholic School and graduated in 2017.
His mother worked as a secretary at that institution until 2021, confirming a personal link to the site of the attack, according to The Washington Post.
Westman was born Robert Westman, but in 2020 he made a legal name and gender change.
He had no serious criminal record, although he did have a history of disturbing internet postings.
On YouTube he uploaded a nearly 20-minute video just hours before the attack, in which he flipped through a notebook with diagrams of weapons, violent phrases and hateful messages.
In the same material he referred to attackers of previous massacres, showing admiration for them.
The manifesto and previous messages
The FBI is investigating a manifest found in Robin Westman’s home and videos she posted on social media.
On them appeared anti-Semitic phrases and violent slogans, as well as chargers marked with messages such as “for the children”.
According to authorities, this evidence points to the fact that the shooting was planned in advance and was intended to target the Catholic community during a religious event.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Minneapolis police confirmed that the case is being analyzed as a possible act of domestic terrorism and hate crime against Catholics, according to The Guardian.
Official reactions
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the attack perpetrated by Robin Westman as “a deliberate act of cruelty beyond comprehension.”
He noted that the school and religious community is deeply affected and that the priority is to attend to the families of the victims and provide psychological support to the survivors.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed his condolences and regretted that such an act of violence would mar the first week of the school year.
President Donald Trump’s administration ordered the flag to fly at half-staff at all public buildings and military bases until August 31.
This fact once again raises the alarm about gun violence in the United States, an issue that also impacts the Hispanic community, especially families with children in private or religious schools.
For Latino parents in Minneapolis and across the country, the tragedy underscores the importance of talking to children about safety protocols, staying alert to official information from schools, and participating in community spaces that discuss prevention measures.
In addition, the federal investigation into Westman’s manifesto highlights the need to closely monitor hate speech and signs of radicalization online, a phenomenon that can affect any community.
It was a deliberate act of cruelty beyond comprehension
Brian O’Hara
