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

[Ontario Mom]

The lawyer has been named and has given a short statement. imo

Link?

 

[mickey2942]

There is strong cultural pressure in the US to avoid seeking professional help. So many of us grew up hearing "stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about" to the point where we just internalize those feelings and fail to work through them. On top of that, nobody wants their friends, family, or work finding out that they're "crazy," or get institutionalized with a 48 hour psych eval going on some kind of permanent record. Topping off the caca-sandwich is the mere fact that good psychiatric care is expensive.

Everybody agrees we have a mental-health crisis in the USA, but nobody wants to provide resources to solve the problem.

It really isn't that simple. Let's say this person was under care of mental health professionals, but never disclosed their obsessions with killing or hurting others.

That is very common. These folks may be on medication, in counseling, but not talking about their deep desires for hurting people. So, there is nothing a mental health care professional could do.

Let's say, this person said, "I have fantasies about killing children, and I bought guns today.". In this case, the mental health professional can release information to law enforcement about the threat and ideation. (Terrasoff Law). It still requires a judge to sign off on involuntary commitment for 72 hours. (Duty to warn).

Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And if after that time, person states, they are fine, and walkout of facility, nothing can be done.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

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

More than seven years before Robin Westman opened fire on a Catholic school as Mass was underway, killing two children and injuring 17 more worshippers, police were called to a townhouse in the Twin Cities suburb where she lived with her mother.

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.” Mendota Heights is another Twin Cities suburb.

The name of that juvenile and what exactly prompted police to be summoned to the three-bedroom home on Crane Creek Lane were blacked out in the report...

 

[fred&edna]

You can give me anecdotal evidence all day long of people shunning legal counsel during criminal investigations, and it would still be a breathtakingly unwise choice.

this is the mother of an adult. apparently that adult was not living under mom's roof in florida. the adult was not a student who targeted a school. i won't bore you with anecdotes. i shall just surmise from your reply that it's your opinion that only looking out for oneself/not helping law enforcement to investigate a mass murder case in a house of worship is the wise thing for everyone to do. i'll also add that i disagree with your opinion... particularly in these circumstances.

only looking out for oneself seems to be the fundamental basic of most mass shooters.

jmo

 

[Fraize]

this is the mother of an adult. apparently that adult was not living under mom's roof in florida. the adult was not a student who targeted a school. i won't bore you with anecdotes. i shall just surmise from your reply that it's your opinion that only looking out for oneself/not helping law enforcement to investigate a mass murder case in a house of worship is the wise thing for everyone to do. i'll also add that i disagree with your opinion.

jmo

Don't misconstrue or conflate my position. I didn't wish to convey that one shouldn't help law enforcement, just that one shouldn't do so without a lawyer present.

 

[tara83]

this is the mother of an adult. apparently that adult was not living under mom's roof in florida. the adult was not a student who targeted a school. i won't bore you with anecdotes. i shall just surmise from your reply that it's your opinion that only looking out for oneself/not helping law enforcement to investigate a mass murder case in a house of worship is the wise thing for everyone to do. i'll also add that i disagree with your opinion.

jmo

I would always have a lawyer when talking to police. Even my stepbrother who is a cop told me the same thing. It would be nice to believe we have a perfect system and innocent people are never charged but sadly that's just not the case.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Link?

The attorney is named here and maybe somebody with skills better than mine can find a source within TOS with the statement.

Classmates say Minneapolis shooter gave warning signs

LIVE UPDATES: Robin Westman had odd obsessions and demonstrated 'erratic' behavior as a child, former classmates have claimed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The killer's mother Mary Grace Westman hired high-profile criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry following the horrific attack on Annunciation Catholic Church.

 

[Stunned]

My father was a attorney. My brother was always involved in something nefarious or in close proximity to something nefarious, involved or not. His advice. Always, always lawyer up whether your innocent or not.

 

[fred&edna]

Don't misconstrue or conflate my position. I didn't wish to convey that one shouldn't help law enforcement, just that one shouldn't do so without a lawyer present.

ahhh... thanks for your clarification. i suppose the shooters other family members weren't wise when they cooperated.... thus, making mom special. why she would think she is so special is perplexing in a case such as this.

jmo

 

[indicolite22]

Brian Entin reports that the shooter's handgun jammed.

He is referring to the perpetrator only as "the shooter" without repeating their name.

this is the mother of an adult. apparently that adult was not living under mom's roof in florida. the adult was not a student who targeted a school. i won't bore you with anecdotes. i shall just surmise from your reply that it's your opinion that only looking out for oneself/not helping law enforcement to investigate a mass murder case in a house of worship is the wise thing for everyone to do. i'll also add that i disagree with your opinion... particularly in these circumstances.

only looking out for oneself seems to be the fundamental basic of most mass shooters.

jmo

It appears that RW's father's family is fully cooperating with the police.

 

[Ontario Mom]

My father was a attorney. My brother was always involved in something nefarious or in close proximity to something nefarious, involved or not. His advice. Always, always lawyer up whether your innocent or not.

Lawyers always say that. I still disagree.

 

[Ontario Mom]

The attorney is named here and maybe somebody with skills better than mine can find a source within TOS with the statement.

Classmates say Minneapolis shooter gave warning signs

LIVE UPDATES: Robin Westman had odd obsessions and demonstrated 'erratic' behavior as a child, former classmates have claimed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The killer's mother Mary Grace Westman hired high-profile criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry following the horrific attack on Annunciation Catholic Church.

Mom's lawyer:

"The Law Offices of Ryan Garry, LLC represent individuals and businesses dealing with accusations and criminal charges brought by the state of MN and federal government." Minneapolis Criminal Defense Attorneys - Ryan Garry LLC

 

[Betty P]

So seeing this along with seeing Minnesota has red flag laws has led to a different line of thought when it comes to the mom and her hiring of a criminal defense attorney

First thing is did the mother know the shooter had acquired the firearms? Did she help them acquire the firearms by providing the money? Did the shooter slip up somewhere and the mom had an idea of their thoughts and she just kind of brushed it off thinking it wasn't a big deal? Did she know that Minnesota had a red flag laws?

I wonder if she hired the attorney because she thinks she might possibly be charged if she knew or had an idea of their thoughts and she didn't report them to the authorities?

Doesn't the mom live in Florida? Is it possible she wasn't aware of them buying guns and planning the attack because they were living in Minneapolis, while she was in FL? They probably didn't need her signature or other approval to purchase the guns.

Not taking sides, but just pointing out something that seems obvious, if accurate.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

ahhh... thanks for your clarification. i suppose the shooters other family members weren't wise when they cooperated.... thus, making mom special. why she would think she is so special is perplexing in a case such as this.

jmo

If I were in the mom’s shoes I don’t think I could put two coherent sentences together. Maybe an attorney is used for that reason. Some mothers love their children unconditionally. imo

There is such a thing as cooperating through an attorney. imo

 

[Inthedetails]

ahhh... thanks for your clarification. i suppose the shooters other family members weren't wise when they cooperated.... thus, making mom special. why she would think she is so special is perplexing in a case such as this.

jmo

I hope for news that the mom is safe and stable before I project any assumption on her actions or "specialness." I'm thankful she has counsel to advise her.

I don't think the public hounding her is helpful in making the conversation with LE happen faster or easier.

We can practice our patience. That's my opinion and I know others will not agree.

jmopinion

 

[Betty P]

If I were in the mom’s shoes I don’t think I could put two coherent sentences together. Maybe an attorney is used for that reason. Some mothers love their children unconditionally. imo

There is such a thing as cooperating through an attorney. imo

It's possible she's under siege by the news media and getting a lot of threats from crazy people, all while mourning this terrible tragedy. Its probably especially difficult for her as she worked at the church/school for many years and has close ties to it. I wonder if the killer chose that target as a way of hurting their mother in some way.

 

[Ontario Mom]

If I were in the mom’s shoes I don’t think I could put two coherent sentences together. Maybe an attorney is used for that reason. Some mothers love their children unconditionally. imo

There is such a thing as cooperating through an attorney. imo

I have to agree here. I don't know if I'd be able to speak, let alone think, if I found out my adult kid shot up a Catholic church school (the same one he attended and that I worked at) and innocent children died. I still don't think I'd call a lawyer but if that's what she needs to help her get her head around this & fully cooperate with this investigation, then that's what she needs.

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

The attorney is named here and maybe somebody with skills better than mine can find a source within TOS with the statement.

Classmates say Minneapolis shooter gave warning signs

LIVE UPDATES: Robin Westman had odd obsessions and demonstrated 'erratic' behavior as a child, former classmates have claimed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The killer's mother Mary Grace Westman hired high-profile criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry following the horrific attack on Annunciation Catholic Church.

Do we know if she sought out this lawyer, or he phoned her? She lives in Florida, and I believe that this lawyer is in Minnesota. Many lawyers take high profiles cases pro bono to get their names in the news. It's good for future business.

It doesn't hurt to consult a lawyer. Plus, I think this lawyer said that he is fielding all of the media calls to her. She has lived in Florida since 2022. So, it seems to me that she has been out of the loop for a while.

In the "postscript" note left by RW, he told "T" (whom I believe is his sister) to make up with the mother. So, I believe at least one child is estranged from the mother.

JMO.

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

Here is the latest article, and it contains a lot of new news. A recent breakup by the killer, and two former incidents at the home in the past.

Minneapolis school shooter went 'through break up' before attack

Transgender shooter Robin Westman had been involved with a 'significant' partner, but the relationship recently ended, the killer's father told police.

www.dailymail.co.uk

JMO.

 

[Dotta]

"Mother of Minneapolis shooter ​

hires high-profile lawyer.​

Mary Grace Westman
has retained an attorney
after the deadly Minneapolis school shooting.

'She is completely distraught about the situation
and has no culpability
but is seeking an attorney to deal with calls like this',
Attorney Ryan Garry said.

Garry was hired by NFL star Colin Kaepernick and his Know Your Rights Campaign to represent protesters after George Floryd's death in May 2020.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at a news conference on Thursday
that dozens of interviews have been conducted with Robin Westman's relatives, friends and associates.

But officers
'have not been successful in talking to the shooter's mother',
he said.

It is unclear
why Mary Grace is not cooperating with investigators."

Classmates say Minneapolis shooter gave warning signs

LIVE UPDATES: Robin Westman had odd obsessions and demonstrated 'erratic' behavior as a child, former classmates have claimed.

www.dailymail.co.uk