A shooting at an Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis during a mass has left two people dead and dozens injured. The incident has drawn attention due to the identity of the suspected shooter, Robin Westman, who has been identified by local law enforcement as the individual responsible. Westman, who publicly identified as a woman, had previously changed their name from Robert to Robin in 2020.
According to reports, Westman uploaded a lengthy YouTube video approximately 20 minutes before the shooting. The video, which has since been removed, reportedly contained violent content, including gun schematics, references to weapons, and messages scrawled on magazines such as ‘kill Donald Trump’ and ‘Rip & Tear.’ The video also included parts written in Cyrillic with English transliteration, and a drawing of a figure seemingly purchasing ammunition from the ‘devil.’
During the mass, the shooter targeted attendees, leading to the deaths and injuries of several individuals. The police chief of Minneapolis, Brian O’Hara, confirmed that Westman was not previously known to law enforcement. The incident has sparked questions about the role of online content, particularly manifestos, in motivating acts of violence.
While the motive behind the attack remains under investigation, the presence of anti-Trump rhetoric in the manifesto has raised concerns about the influence of such messages on extremist actions. The tragedy has also ignited debate on the broader issue of gun control and the impact of social media in shaping extremist ideologies.