On the morning of Wednesday, August 27, 2025, a gunman Robin Westman opened fire on worshippers gathered for a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis.
Two children—an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old—were killed. Seventeen other people were hurt, including fourteen children.
Police say the suspect Robin Westman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound behind the church shortly after the attack. Officials quickly moved to stabilize the scene, reunite families, and get the injured to nearby hospitals.
Most of the wounded are expected to survive, according to early updates shared by authorities and local outlets. As you might guess, information is still changing by the hour, but several facts are now solid.
Who Was Robin Westman?
Authorities have identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who had a prior connection to Annunciation.
Multiple outlets report Westman once attended the school and had a family tie to a former staff member. Police also said Westman legally obtained the weapons used in the attack.
In the first wave of reporting, law enforcement and major newsrooms emphasized standard biographical details and the school connection.
Some coverage also noted that Westman had recently transitioned and had previously used a different name; this fact has been highlighted—sometimes sensationally—by political commentators, but investigators stress that identity alone does not establish motive. At this stage, it’s one detail among many, not a conclusion.
How did the Attack Unfold?
According to police briefings and witness accounts, the shooter approached the side of the church during morning Mass and fired a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun through windows toward the people inside.
The burst of gunfire was sudden and terrifying; parishioners tried to shield children and move to cover. After the attack, the suspect moved behind the church and died by suicide. First responders flooded the area within minutes.
Officials say all three firearms were purchased legally. That detail—common in many U.S. mass shootings—will likely feed into policy debates about background checks, waiting periods, and safe storage. For now, it’s simply a confirmed fact in a larger puzzle.
Was there a Manifesto?
Investigators say a manifesto-style document and videos were posted online around the time of the attack; platforms have since removed much of the content.
Early reporting says the writings admired previous mass shooters and contained hateful rhetoric, including anti-Catholic themes. Officials are still authenticating everything and translating portions that used coded or stylized writing.
As is typical in cases like this, law enforcement is reluctant to broadcast the material, both to avoid copycat effects and to ensure accurate interpretation.
A word to the wise: early summaries of any manifesto are often incomplete or cherry-picked. Expect updates as forensic analysts pull metadata, validate authorship, and line up the timeline against phone records and eyewitness accounts.
What About Robin Westman Motive?
Here’s the straight answer: investigators haven’t pinned down a final motive. The FBI and local police are reviewing digital footprints, journals, and communications.
Given the location (a Catholic church during a school Mass) and the writings recovered, federal officials say they are investigating the attack as an act of domestic terrorism and a potential hate crime targeting Catholics.
That classification can change as facts evolve, but it guides how agencies coordinate and what statutes might apply if there had been accomplices.
At the same time, police are warning the public against leaping to simple answers. From what’s been reported, Westman showed signs of deep fixation on notoriety and prior mass murderers, a profile that, sadly, shows up again and again in similar crimes.
Ideology may have flavored the writings, but fame-seeking and grievance can be equally powerful drivers. Until detectives finish interviews and data workups, motive is provisional.
