The shocking massacre at a Minneapolis Catholic church left two children dead and 17 others wounded. It is now being linked to an underground network of extremist online groups that experts say prey on vulnerable young people and glorify violence.
A shooter tied to sinister communities
Investigators and researchers believe Robin Westman, 23, who opened fire at Annunciation Catholic Church, displayed signs of being influenced by shadowy groups. These groups mix satanic symbols, neo-Nazi ideology, and mass shooter worship.
These groups are collectively known as the “764 network.” They operate in encrypted chat rooms on platforms like Telegram, Discord, and even gaming platforms like Roblox. They are often hidden from parents and difficult for authorities to track.
Experts say they deliberately target kids, transgender youth, and people struggling with mental health. They groom them, extract sexual material, then extort them into more horrific acts, sometimes even violence on camera.
David Riedman, creator of the K–12 School Shooting Database, told the Daily Mail that Westman’s writings and weapon inscriptions closely mirror the “template of violence” seen in these extremist spaces. “There are very clear references in the photos and videos,” he explained.
Messages of death
In a chilling video uploaded before the shooting, Westman was heard muttering, “I wanna kill myself.” He stabbed a drawing of the church during the recording. Journals written in Cyrillic letters spoke of anticipation and described the attack as “a good combo of easy tasks for me and devastating tragedy.”
Other writings scrawled across Westman’s weapons included phrases such as “For the children,” “Take this all of you, and eat!”, “Where is your God?”, and “Kill Donald Trump.” They also featured the names of past mass shooters, including Adam Lanza and Samantha Rupnow.
Experts say these cryptic messages are hallmarks of the so-called True Crime Communities. These are online spaces that glorify and sexualize school shooters, likened to anime fandoms but centered on mass violence.
A global, hidden threat
David Riedman warned that these networks are not confined to the U.S. He pointed to extremist subcultures in Russia and Eastern Europe that often reference Columbine and other mass killings. The U.S. Department of Justice has classified groups like 764 and COM as Tier One terrorism threats, while the FBI has reported victims as young as nine.
Independent journalist Becca Spinks, who has tracked these groups for years, told the Daily Mail: “They deliberately target vulnerable kids – those who are depressed, self-harming, or confused about their identity. They groom them, extort them, and sometimes push them toward horrific violence.”
Families left grieving
As experts trace the shooter’s disturbing influences, families in Minneapolis grapple with unimaginable loss. Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, were killed as they sat in church pews for their first school Mass of the year. Their parents have spoken through tears about the children’s joy, laughter, and the light that was stolen.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the act “sheer cruelty and cowardice.” As the investigation continues, the emerging picture is of a troubled young adult swept into the darkest corners of the internet, with devastating consequences for an entire community.
