Transgender Shooter Kills 2 Children, Injures 17 in Minneapolis Catholic School Massacre
Minneapolis, MN – In a horrific act of violence that has once again thrust the debate over mental health, gun rights, and societal decay into the national spotlight, a transgender individual identified as Robin [Robert] M. Westman, 23, opened fire during a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis this morning.
Two children, ages 8 and 10, were tragically killed, and 17 others—including 14 children—were injured before Westman reportedly took their own life.
The attack, which targeted worshippers through the church’s stained-glass windows, has drawn swift condemnation from President Donald Trump, who signed a proclamation honoring the victims and called for prayers for the affected families.
Westman, born Robert Paul Westman in 2002, legally changed his name to Robin in 2019 at age 17 with parental consent and identified as female. Authorities revealed that Westman’s mother was an employee at the school, adding a chilling personal dimension to the targeting of the Catholic institution. The shooter was armed with multiple firearms, including rifles inscribed with inflammatory messages such as “Kill Donald Trump,” “Who is your God?,” “Israel must fall,” and “Gas Jews,” pointing to a toxic mix of anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-Trump sentiments.
Additionally, one of the standard-capacity magazines recovered bore handwritten names of infamous mass shooters:
Pekka-Eric Auvinen (2007 Jokela High School shooting, Finland), James Holmes (2012 Aurora theater shooting), Adam Lanza (2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting), Vladislav Roslyakov (2018 Kerch Polytechnic massacre), Charles Whitman (1966 University of Texas tower shooting), and Marc Lépine (1989 École Polytechnique massacre). This disturbing homage suggests Westman drew inspiration from these prior attackers, highlighting a potential “contagion effect” where perpetrators emulate historical figures in mass violence.
Emerging reports also link Westman to videos uploaded to YouTube under an alias, where they displayed weapons and flipped through pages of a handwritten manifesto expressing “hate for religion” and a “mission” against perceived injustices.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and local officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, quickly addressed the tragedy in press conferences.
Frey notably used the platform to advocate for transgender rights, emphasizing that the shooter’s identity should not fuel discrimination against the broader community.
However, critics, including Second Amendment advocates, argue that such statements distract from the real issues: untreated mental illness, societal isolation, and the failure of existing systems to intervene before violence erupts. As AmmoLand News has long reported, mass shootings like this are often exploited by anti-gun activists to push for restrictive laws that infringe on law-abiding citizens’ rights, rather than addressing root causes like mental health crises or online radicalization.
The FBI and local law enforcement are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime, with no immediate ties to organized extremist groups uncovered so far. Heavily armed police were seen searching residential areas near the school in the aftermath, as the community grapples with the shock of gunfire interrupting a sacred back-to-school celebration.
Meanwhile, Everytown is Dancing in the Blood
“The “Minnesota Advocacy Team” from Everytown just sent out a fundraising email similar to the national one – calling for a ban on “assault weapons” and begging for donations.”
The “Minnesota Advocacy Team” from Everytown just sent out a fundraising email similar to the national one – calling for a ban on “assault weapons” and begging for donations. pic.twitter.com/hK8341Hvd4
— MN Gun Owners Caucus (@mnguncaucus) August 27, 2025
Gun banners and freedom haters are despicable.
Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. Donations can be made through verified funds for Annunciation Catholic School.
Stay vigilant, America—protect your rights, and demand accountability from those who fail to address the true causes of these preventable tragedies.
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