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

[Inthedetails]

1 pistol, 1 shotgun and 1 rifle I would not consider that to be an arsenal.
As a hunter, collector and shooting instructor hubby had at one time had over 50 weapons, that would be an arsenal. And yes they were kept in multiple safes.

Jmo

Two children were killed, people remain in hospital, multiple families are devasted, a community is in shock and pain, and a nation faces yet another shooting where one of us killed others.

And people are arguing the shooter didn't accumulate enough weapons to call it an arsenal?

This isn't about Americans who love their weapon collections.

It's about a killer who purchased guns and ammunition with the purpose of murdering as many people as possible. The shooter built a supply (aka arsenal) to do that.

jmopinion

Edited to fix pronouns mistake. I'm an old dog learning new ways, willing to do so but also needing to pay attention as I go.

 

[Miss Poovy]

I think the difference in thinking comes down to being a gun owner and not being a gun owner. Three guns and 3-400 rounds of ammo isn't a lot to a gun owner but I can see how someone who doesn't own guns would see it as an arsenal. For some, that's an average amount of ammo going to the range regularly to get and stay proficient, learning the differences in how their guns shoot, using different ammo to see how it works or if it causes problems with the gun etc. Then you have some competitive shooters who go through ammo like crazy and can go through 30-40k rounds per year.

I agree, however, I’m not a gun owner or have any type of firearm.

 

[Sundog]

has there been any further information about rw's employment after high school, aside from the 3 months at the med cannibis shop as reported. it seems that rw spent so much time fixated on himself/herself there was no time for anything nor anyone else.

also, i wonder if rw did the horrendous hitler salute thing at home as well as in school - as reported by classmate.

how often do young adults write in code. do we know if rw studied foreign languages in a classroom setting.

jmo

It was reported in MSM (posted here) that one of the very dark social media sites (that the shooter is believed to have frequented) uses these kinds of "code" languages. It was also reported in MSM that a former student who knew the shooter said that the shooter liked to use code language/writing, I don't remember the details, but she mentioned this in her video interview with MSM that was reported and posted here.

 

[Sundog]

Most Taurus pistols can be bought new for $300 or less. If he bought a Mossberg 88, those are usually around $250 new. There are several AR clones that can be had new for around $500. All on the very cheap side for buying guns. I'm interested in when he bought them because if he bought them around the 4th of July, he could have gotten them for even cheaper as im seeing some AR clones for under $400.

He could have bought all 3 for under $1000 brand new which can very easily be done with an credit card or self financed like you said

That's still a lot of money for someone who doesn't have a job most of the time, which appears to be the case with this shooter, from what we know so far, at least.

 

[Elley Mae]

Two children were killed, people remain in hospital, multiple families are devasted, a community is in shock and pain, and a nation faces yet another shooting where one of us killed others.

And people are arguing the shooter didn't accumulate enough weapons to call it an arsenal?

This isn't about Americans who love their weapon collections.

It's about a killer who purchased guns and ammunition with the purpose of murdering as many people as possible. He built himself a supply (aka arsenal) to do that.

jmopinion

I know that children were murdered, I didn’t realize it was an argument but a discussion.

Why was I the one that you had a big problem with, while others voiced the same opinion as me.

Jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

I know that children were murdered, I didn’t realize it was an argument but a discussion.

Why was I the one that you had a big problem with, while others voiced the same opinion as me.

Jmo

My comment wasn't directed at you specifically but continuing the conversation. Apologies it wasn't apparent.

If we're taking about word definitions, an "argument" can be a "discussion," with each point of view taking a side and arguing it's merit. It doesn't necessarily mean a "fight," imo.

Sorry to derail the thread with this but it is upsetting to see a focus, IMO, on the word "arsenal" when children are dead because a weapon was used against them. Seems like misplaced focus, but I realize others might argue that the word choice of "arsenal" does matter.

jmopinion

 

[Elley Mae]

Robin Westman’s teacher reported shooter’s signs of self-harm years before Minneapolis church killings

Robin Westman had “evidence of self-harm” on her arms — and the art teacher reported the “need for help.”

nypost.com

 

[Sundog]

Robin Westman’s teacher reported shooter’s signs of self-harm years before Minneapolis church killings

Robin Westman had “evidence of self-harm” on her arms — and the art teacher reported the “need for help.”

nypost.com

So the red flags of the shooter's past are starting to come out. The shooter didn't adjust at the schools attended after Annunciation. But the shooter graduated from high school, eventually, in 2021, according to this article. So what has the shooter been doing since 2021? Just being enabled by others?

Schools attended:

-Annunciation Catholic School
-A military/cadet all boys Catholic School
-A Minnesota Transitions Charter School (for students who weren't adjusting in traditional school settings)
-Southwest High School in Minnesota (where the shooter eventually graduated in 2021)

 

[Dawookie]

That's still a lot of money for someone who doesn't have a job most of the time, which appears to be the case with this shooter, from what we know so far, at least.

I agree, just pointing out that they could have obtained the firearms for cheaper than what most people would realize.

 

[mickey2942]

I don't really see what sort of response is needed from a parent of an adult who commits a crime. We don't know about their relationship.

 

[justtrish]

I believe Theresa was his sister. And may I just say, it's like the most repulsive icing on that already demonic cake that he wrote all this vile garbage about his own family members. My heart goes out to them. I can't even imagine.

This is awful. I really wonder what was actually wrong with RW. I think something mental far more than depression was going on. It's disturbing to hear just how much hate this is for everyone and everything. RW sits at a park where bugs are and complains constantly about the bugs. I think most of us would just not sit at the dang park and we'd find a place that didn't have bugs if this was such a problem, but instead RW sits there and just writes about the bugs over and over. Writing hurtful things about Theresa.. If she was such an ick person that RW needed to complain about her and say something as awful as I'm surprised, she hasn't ki##ed herself, then why visit her at all? It's like RW is creating the problems they are complaining about on purpose. IMO

 

[Sadi]

not that i'm aware. the op i was replying to in my post used the looking sideways' phrase and that's why i used it.... you'd have to ask them. the only thing i've read is that mom hired a criminal defense attorney and has not cooperated with law enforcement.

personally, i have no idea why mom wouldn't cooperate.

jmo

eta... i've now seen the news report that mom has spoken with law enforcement.

Has there been any news about the mother cooperating with LE and talking with them? Why wouldn’t she want to help them? It doesn’t make sense.

 

[Serononin]

I think the difference in thinking comes down to being a gun owner and not being a gun owner. Three guns and 3-400 rounds of ammo isn't a lot to a gun owner but I can see how someone who doesn't own guns would see it as an arsenal. For some, that's an average amount of ammo going to the range regularly to get and stay proficient, learning the differences in how their guns shoot, using different ammo to see how it works or if it causes problems with the gun etc. Then you have some competitive shooters who go through ammo like crazy and can go through 30-40k rounds per year.

Not a gun owner, but what counts as an "arsenal" is sort of context-dependent IMO. Like, for someone who has a legit use for guns (hunting, competitive shooting, etc.), I wouldn't view having multiple guns for different things any differently to how I view my dad having five guitars for different styles of music. In this case, though, three guns does kind of feel like an "arsenal" (in hindsight) because we know that the shooter only purchased them for that one particular purpose.

But then, I come from a country where guns are very rare and Arsenal is a football team, so I don't really know anything about what normal people (i.e. not people planning a mass murder) would actually need/use different types of gun for

 

[fred&edna]

Has there been any news about the mother cooperating with LE and talking with them? Why wouldn’t she want to help them? It doesn’t make sense.

i think she/her attorney spoke with some law enforcement... i don't know if that's cooperation but it's more than nothing. jmo

i saw this clip... starts about 10;00... the assistant police chief spoke about communication with mom

 

[fred&edna]

i'm very, very curious about how much time rw spent online... particularly online sites that fueled evil.

jmo

 

[fred&edna]

Robin Westman’s teacher reported shooter’s signs of self-harm years before Minneapolis church killings

Robin Westman had “evidence of self-harm” on her arms — and the art teacher reported the “need for help.”

nypost.com

Is it against the rules for a teacher to reach out and see how a former student is doing... particularly a student she reported for possible self-harm? Just curious if that would have been possible if she had time and inclination.

 

[Sundog]

I don't really see what sort of response is needed from a parent of an adult who commits a crime. We don't know about their relationship.

Since the U.S. Department of Justice through the FBI is investigating this crime as domestic terrorism, I would think that the FBI would be able to get a search warrant, especially if there was evidence of communication between the mother and the shooter and maybe any financial links. And I am sure there were electronic communications at the very least. There may be other ways that the feds can get search warrants and/or an interview with individuals related to a person how is being charged with domestic terrorism. Maybe someone on here knows more about that and/or has researched it.

 

[Sundog]

Is it against the rules for a teacher to reach out and see how a former student is doing... particularly a student she reported for possible self-harm? Just curious if that would have been possible if she had time and inclination.

Probably not a good idea unless she was going to first reach out to the student's parents to get permission. Also, she was an art teacher and not a trained counselor to assess the issue of the self-harm reported. I think she did her duty, which is all she could responsibly do in a situation like this.

It sounds like the shooter wasn't in that school for very long and was transferred out to a transitional charter school. Perhaps she thought the shooter might adjust there and do better in that kind of environment. JMO.

 

[mickey2942]

Since the U.S. Department of Justice through the FBI is investigating this crime as domestic terrorism, I would think that the FBI would be able to get a search warrant, especially if there was evidence of communication between the mother and the shooter and maybe any financial links. And I am sure there were electronic communications at the very least. There may be other ways that the feds can get search warrants and/or an interview with individuals related to a person how is being charged with domestic terrorism. Maybe someone on here knows more about that and/or has researched it.

So, if I gave my adult daughter, who lives in another state, $500, that would create some sort of liability or responsibility to the parent?

I don't see any connection. Or that parents really have any sort of responsibility to say anything about the actions of their adult children.

 

[Sundog]

So, if I gave my adult daughter, who lives in another state, $500, that would create some sort of liability or responsibility to the parent?

I don't see any connection. Or that parents really have any sort of responsibility to say anything about the actions of their adult children.

I don't think that the transfer of money or communication would create any criminal liability, but it might allow for a search warrant of the home. LE did have a search warrant for the father's home, and it appears that the father spoke voluntarily to LE.

We don't know if LE had a search warrant for the mother's home, as it appears they didn't enter the home when no one responded to the knocks on the door by the FBI. Maybe they'll be back with a warrant at a later time, if appropriate.

In any event, the mother has lawyered up now, so they will have to go through the lawyer to ask her questions, although if appropriate they can still get a warrant to search her home if they have reason to believe that there may be some evidence there, even if unbeknownst to the mother.

JMO