Shooter Sprays Bullets at Children at Morning Mass
A ghastly tragedy befell Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday when 17-year-old Robin Westman opened fire within the church affiliated with the school. Brandishing a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, Westman sprayed bullets through stained-glass windows at children who had gathered to attend morning mass.
Two children, both eight and ten years old, were killed. 17 others, 14 students and three adults were injured, confirmed by authorities. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the attack “sheer cruelty and cowardice” after learning that the gunman subsequently took her own life within the church.
At least two church doors were barricaded with wooden planks by the attackers, said investigators, indicating that the shooter sought to trap victims within.
Who is the Shooter?
Court documents show Westman, who was a transgender woman, requested a judicial name change in Dakota County when she was a minor. The request was co-signed by her mother, Mary, who was employed at Annunciation Catholic School until retiring in 2021. The request was granted in January of 2020 after the family remitted $311 in fees.
The connection between Westman’s family and the school has unsettled the community. Police have not confirmed whether this influenced her decision to target the location.
Disturbing Manifesto Posted Before Attack
Hours before the shooting, a YouTube user thought to be Westman had uploaded a 20-minute video that police are now considering a manifesto. The video featured a drawing of a church being stabbed, muffled suicide threats, and footage of guns including rifles and shotguns with the names of other mass killers inscribed on them.
One firearm component had a chilling message for then-President Donald Trump, urging his assassination. Other videos revealed weapon assembly, implying the attack was well planned.
Police confirmed that Westman had driven her car to the school prior to the attack. They are now investigating her digital trail and the vehicle.
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Community in Mourning
Established in 1923, Annunciation Catholic School has about 400 students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. The school year had only started a few days prior earlier in the week.
Parents, educators, and civilians are stunned by the violence, trying to comprehend how children were made targets within a house of worship. Chief O’Hara underlined the seriousness of the incident, saying: “The unfathomable act of shooting into a church full of children has shaken this community to its core.”
