MN- Minneapolis, mass shooting at church, multiple fatalities, possible explosive device found. Aug 2025

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1961317443860582734

 

[indicolite22]

Is this how it started for RW?

As a teenager, Robin Westman claimed to have been suspended after discussing school shootings with classmates – later writing in a journal that the incident was the origin of a deep obsession with mass shooters.

They did not have a cause, just a wish to join the mass murderers club:

“This is not a church or religion attack, that is not the message,” Westman wrote. “The message is there is no message.”:

RW did not want to get help, because it would ruin their plans:

“I can’t talk to a therapist or family cause I will immediately be reported and put on a watchlist!”

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/28/us/journal-minneapolis-shooter-robin-westman-invs

 

[Coppertop15]

Is this how it started for RW?

As a teenager, Robin Westman claimed to have been suspended after discussing school shootings with classmates – later writing in a journal that the incident was the origin of a deep obsession with mass shooters.

They did not have a cause, just a wish to join the mass murderers club

“This is not a church or religion attack, that is not the message,” Westman wrote. “The message is there is no message.”:

RW did not want to get help, because it would ruin their plans:

“I can’t talk to a therapist or family cause I will immediately be reported and put on a watchlist!”

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/28/us/journal-minneapolis-shooter-robin-westman-invs

I think that is it, really. It seems a lot of people think this is a goal. Plus, with what little history we have, clearly nothing ever stuck for them. Schools, jobs, activities, identity...
Death, however, is quite permanent.

 

[indicolite22]

There was a police intervention at RW's mother's home in 2018:

The heavily redacted police report NBC News obtained from the police department in Eagan, Minnesota, is dated Jan. 26, 2018, and it includes a two-word description explaining why an officer was dispatched to that address: mental health.

It also includes a brief synopsis that reads “assisted Mendota Heights with a check welfare of a juvenile.”

Two years before the mental health call, police responded to a report of a “criminal offense” at the residence, according to a police report.

Investigators say no red flags were raised before Minneapolis church shooter amassed an arsenal of guns

But police visited her home at least two times when she was a teenager, records show.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Dotta]

There was a police intervention at RW's mother's home in 2018:

The heavily redacted police report NBC News obtained from the police department in Eagan, Minnesota, is dated Jan. 26, 2018, and it includes a two-word description explaining why an officer was dispatched to that address: mental health.

It also includes a brief synopsis that reads “assisted Mendota Heights with a check welfare of a juvenile.”

Two years before the mental health call, police responded to a report of a “criminal offense” at the residence, according to a police report.

Investigators say no red flags were raised before Minneapolis church shooter amassed an arsenal of guns

But police visited her home at least two times when she was a teenager, records show.

www.nbcnews.com

So...
There were records of "mental health" & "criminal offense" concerning the future murderer.
But still the weapons were purchased LEGALLY

 

[Elley Mae]

So...
There were records of "mental health" & "criminal offense" concerning the future murderer.
But still the weapons were purchased LEGALLY

Because at that time Juvenile.

 

[girlhasnoname]

I think that is it, really. It seems a lot of people think this is a goal. Plus, with what little history we have, clearly nothing ever stuck for them. Schools, jobs, activities, identity...
Death, however, is quite permanent.

Agree, but they had a chance to make that choice unlike the innocent children and teachers whom they shot at and killed. JMO

 

[indicolite22]

RW still wished they were a girl:

“I regret being trans. I wish I was a girl, I just know I cannot achieve that body with the technology we have today. I also can’t afford that,” Robin wrote.

Minneapolis school shooter Robin Westman’s mother Mary Grace not cooperating with cops, hires criminal defense attorney

Mary Grace Westman, mother of transgender mass shooter Robin Westman, is reportedly not cooperating with police in the investigation into the ghastly slaughter at Annunciation Catholic School in Mi…

nypost.com

 

[indicolite22]

The neighbor said Robin Westman was into activities that interested many kids -- particularly skateboarding and rock climbing -- and was "a good kid who gave up no signs of violence."

"If she was radicalized, it must have been quickly. We have no idea how this could happen," the neighbor said.

The father and stepmother "were the best neighbors I can possibly imagine," the neighbor said, describing the family as "apolitical," "not a gun family" and "live and let live people."

Minneapolis shooter 'expressed hate towards almost every group imaginable'

All 15 children injured in Wednesday's mass shooting in Minneapolis are expected to survive, the city's police chief said late Wednesday.

abcnews.go.com

I don't think RW was radicalized quickly. They were just hiding their tendencies.

 

[Curiousobserver]

So...
There were records of "mental health" & "criminal offense" concerning the future murderer.
But still the weapons were purchased LEGALLY

As with virtually every case like this there will be, in retrospect, a trail of very clear breadcrumbs and warning signs that everyone tolerated and ignored.

 

[Elley Mae]

The father told police the shooter recently "broke up with a significant and/or romantic partner" and had been staying with a friend.

The father also told police that the shooter attended Annunciation as a child and that the father’s former spouse, who is the shooter’s mother, worked there in the past.

Warrant: Minneapolis school shooter recently broke up with romantic partner

The shooter who opened fire on a crowd of people and killed two children at a Minneapolis church and school had recently broken up with a romantic partner, according to a search warrant obtained by the FOX 9 Investigators.

www.fox9.com

 

[Skigh]

Cops descend on condo of Minneapolis school shooter's mom

Federal agents descended on a Florida condo belonging to the mother of transgender school shooter Robin Westman on Thursday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Federal agents descended on a Florida condo belonging to the mother of transgender school shooter Robin Westman after she refused to cooperate with authorities investigating the deadly attack.

Plainclothes FBI agents could be seen in video footage arriving at Mary Grace Westman's Naples, Florida condominium and banging on the door as the windows and shades were shuttered.


The feds were apparently not the only ones looking to speak with Westman on Thursday. Deputy vehicles from the local Collier County Sheriff's Office were seen circling the Berkshire Lakes condominium complex.

The federal response to her home came as it was revealed police received disturbing calls from the family's Minneapolis home years earlier.

It is now believed Mary Grace fled the home on Thursday, as police in Minneapolis, have not been able to speak to her concerning her 23-year-old child's horrific shooting rampage at the Annunciation Catholic Church.

 

[Tricia]

One day timeouts are being issued if you post anything about transgender

 

[Chimera]

Very scary to think the shooting had been planned for years ?
I wish people could seek professional help if they know something is wrong with them.
This horror didn't have to happen.
Not knowing the complete financial situation of the shooter's family, esp. the parents -- but I do believe help would have been available if sought ?
Imo.

 

[Inthedetails]

Cops descend on condo of Minneapolis school shooter's mom

Federal agents descended on a Florida condo belonging to the mother of transgender school shooter Robin Westman on Thursday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Federal agents descended on a Florida condo belonging to the mother of transgender school shooter Robin Westman after she refused to cooperate with authorities investigating the deadly attack.

Plainclothes FBI agents could be seen in video footage arriving at Mary Grace Westman's Naples, Florida condominium and banging on the door as the windows and shades were shuttered.


The feds were apparently not the only ones looking to speak with Westman on Thursday. Deputy vehicles from the local Collier County Sheriff's Office were seen circling the Berkshire Lakes condominium complex.

The federal response to her home came as it was revealed police received disturbing calls from the family's Minneapolis home years earlier.

It is now believed Mary Grace fled the home on Thursday, as police in Minneapolis, have not been able to speak to her concerning her 23-year-old child's horrific shooting rampage at the Annunciation Catholic Church.

If she wanted to avoid attention, the plan backfired. I hope she has wise counsel to help her navigate this situation and speak to LE without media and the public mobbing her. And, I hope she is safe.

It's understandable how devastating this must be for her but she does need to provide info to LE, imo, and I hope that is handled in a way that works for everyone. Avoiding the conversations will not make all this go away.

jmopinion

 

[indicolite22]

“In regards to my motivation behind the attack I can’t really put my finger on a specific purpose,” the passage read. “It definitely wouldn’t be for racism or white supremacy,” the notebook reads. “I don’t want to do it to spread a message. I do it to please myself. I do it because I am sick.”
..
The journal contained writings in English and Cyrillic, expressing, among other things, a desire to gun down “a big assembly on the first day of school”.

Neighbor saw cops surround Minneapolis shooter’s home as ‘surreal’ connection set in

Exclusive details: ‘This was not a family you would have thought this kind of thing would happen to,’ Jim White, who lives across the street from suspected shooter Robin Westman, told The Independent

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Chimera]

Investigators say no red flags were raised before Minneapolis church shooter amassed an arsenal of guns

But police visited her home at least two times when she was a teenager, records show.

www.nbcnews.com

"....The federal response to her home came as it was revealed police received disturbing calls from the family's Minneapolis home years earlier.

It is now believed Mary Grace fled the home on Wednesday, as police in Minneapolis, have not been able to speak to her concerning her 23-year-old child's horrific shooting rampage at the Annunciation Catholic Church...."

So, have either parent cooperated with LE by now ?
LE appear to want to speak with the mom specifically.
The dad hasn't made a public statement but may be speaking to LE by now.

Although out of an abundance of caution and maybe some shock here at the crimes committed... the mom has retained a lawyer.

The neighbors seemed willing to speak out.
There were some red flags mentioned at the above link, but nothing that would have prevented the purchasing of weapons.

https://www.winknews.com/news/collier/possible-naples-connection-to-catholic-school-shooting/article_a265db3a-2686-412d-af51-f3b1730348a0.htm

"... WINK News has confirmed a Mary Grace Westman of Minnesota owns a condo in Naples.

Her social media accounts show her in photos with the accused killer.

We have not been able to reach her directly. But are on the scene speaking with neighbors...."

A question here : Since the mother, Mary G. W. hasn't been charged with anything or connected to the slayings, she wouldn't be legally obligated to speak to federal (FBI) agents or the local LE, even if they request to speak with you, correct ?
You can just say that you'd rather not talk now until you're ready to do so at the advice of your lawyer or counsel ?

My .02 is that given the deaths of two children it might have been better to immediately cooperate and give any assistance possible to LE; but unless you're in a situation where you've also lost your own child, I don't know how I'd respond.

My other question is; IF the shooter bought the weapons, or if the monies needed were obtained by a parent or relative, would LE want to talk to parents/relatives and (maybe ?) charges might be brought ?
Although again if everything was purchased legally there'd be no way for the courts to press charges ?
Thanks for any input.
I still have questions.

My thoughts as always are for the families of the injured and especially with the two families who have suffered the unimaginable !
Omo.

 

[fred&edna]

“In regards to my motivation behind the attack I can’t really put my finger on a specific purpose,” the passage read. “It definitely wouldn’t be for racism or white supremacy,” the notebook reads. “I don’t want to do it to spread a message. I do it to please myself. I do it because I am sick.”
..
The journal contained writings in English and Cyrillic, expressing, among other things, a desire to gun down “a big assembly on the first day of school”.

Neighbor saw cops surround Minneapolis shooter’s home as ‘surreal’ connection set in

Exclusive details: ‘This was not a family you would have thought this kind of thing would happen to,’ Jim White, who lives across the street from suspected shooter Robin Westman, told The Independent

www.independent.co.uk

just like other mass shooters... i do it to please myself.

if i'm not happy... i'm entitled to kill innocents.

murderers have no self-control.
as much as they say they loathe themselves...
they love nothing and no one more than themselves.


eta; rw's writing included a ps urging someone else to 'get over' a riff with mother. which demonstrates rw had an over abundance of ego.

jmo

 

[Dawookie]

So...
There were records of "mental health" & "criminal offense" concerning the future murderer.
But still the weapons were purchased LEGALLY

Juvenile records are sealed and unless the crime committed was one that would disqualifying them from owning a firearm it wouldn't show up in a background check

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Minneapolis church shooter's mother hires criminal defense attorney

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said "we have not been successful in talking to the shooter’s mother," Mary Grace Westman.

www.nbcnews.com

The mother of the shooter who opened fire Wednesday on a Minneapolis Catholic school during morning Mass has hired a criminal defense attorney, as police say they've been unable to reach her.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said that Robin Westman's family has been cooperating with investigators, but they have not yet located her mother, Mary Grace Westman. Records show that her residence is in Florida.

He said investigators have done dozens of interviews with the shooter’s family, friends and associates, and have talked to the shooter's father.

"I know we have not been successful in talking to the shooter’s mother yet at this time," O’Hara said at a news conference Thursday...