The gunman behind Wednesday’s horrific shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church has been identified as Robin Westman, a 23-year-old who left behind a trail of disturbing online videos and a chilling handwritten journal that hinted at his twisted motives.
Obsession with Violence and Mass Killers
Just hours before opening fire on children during a back-to-school Mass, Westman allegedly uploaded a 20-minute YouTube video titled “So long and thanks for all the fish.” In it, he flipped through a red spiral notebook filled with rambling passages, some in Cyrillic, and horrifying fantasies.
One line read: “I have had thoughts about mass murder for a long time. I am very conflicted with writing this journal.” Another passage expressed admiration for Sandy Hook killer Adam Lanza, calling that massacre his “favorite” school shooting.
The gunman wrote about fantasizing over “being that scary horrible monster standing over those powerless kids” and described his intent to cause “devastating tragedy” by targeting Annunciation Catholic School, where his mother had worked until her 2021 retirement.
Weapons Marked With Disturbing Phrases
In another video, Westman displayed his firearms and magazines, which were scrawled with chilling phrases like “for the children,” “kill Donald Trump,” and “where is you God?” He was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun, and police say he fired all three during the massacre.
He also blocked church doors with wooden planks, apparently to prevent victims from escaping.
Calculated Target: Annunciation Catholic Church
Westman’s writings indicated he had studied the school for weaknesses, evaluating attack times and crowd sizes. “I think attacking a large group of kids coming in from recess is my best plan,” he scribbled, later mulling a church event instead. He ultimately opened fire on children seated inside the sanctuary through the stained-glass windows.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the attacker died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. The massacre left two children dead, ages 8 and 10, and at least 17 others wounded, including 14 children and 3 adults.
A Quiet Background With No Criminal History
He was born Robert Westman and applied to change his name to Robin in 2019, when he was 17. Court records show the change was granted in January 2020. Police say he had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement. His motive remains under investigation.
The shooter grew up in Richfield, Minnesota, and lived quietly until his violent, premeditated attack shattered a community and left the nation in mourning.
