Politically Motivated Left-Wing Rhetoric Inspires School Shooter Robin Westman to 'Disrupt' at the Direction of Left-Wing Democrat Leaders
- 17GEN4
- Aug 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 28
Tragic Shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis Leaves Two Children Dead, 17 Injured
Minneapolis, MN – August 27, 2025
A devastating shooting rocked Annunciation Catholic School in south Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, August 27, 2025, claiming the lives of two children, ages 8 and 10, and injuring 17 others, including 14 children and three adults. The horrific attack, which unfolded during a morning Mass celebrating the first week of the school year, has left the community reeling and reignited national conversations about gun violence. The suspected shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism and a potential hate crime targeting Catholics. The motive has been substantially supported by deconstructive semitism.
This type of violent rhetoric is common among the transgender community. Many members of their community are groomed with lies tricked into mutilating their bodies and taking hormone modification which produces symptoms associated with psychological de-patterning and manipulation.
The Attack
The shooting began just before 8:30 a.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church, which houses the pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Westman, armed with a legally purchased rifle, shotgun, and pistol, approached the church from the exterior and fired dozens of rounds through stained-glass windows toward children and worshippers seated in the pews. The attack was described as a “deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping,” with O’Hara noting the “sheer cruelty and cowardice” of targeting a church full of children. A smoke bomb was found at the scene, but no explosives were detonated. Police recovered no bullet casings inside the church, indicating the shooter fired exclusively from outside.
Weston Halsne, a 10-year-old fifth-grader who survived the attack, recounted the terrifying moments to CBS affiliate WCCO. “I was like two seats away from the stained glass window,” he said. “My friend, Victor, saved me though, because he laid on top of me, but he got hit.” Halsne’s friend was injured in the back and required hospitalization but is expected to recover. Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, told KSTP she initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks. “I saw the shooting and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so scared,’” she said, describing how a teacher led her and a friend to shelter in a preschool classroom where they prayed for safety.
Bill Bienemann, a local resident who has attended Mass at Annunciation for years, told The Associated Press he heard as many as 50 shots over four minutes. “I was shocked. I said, ‘There’s no way that could be gunfire,’” he recounted. “It was sporadic.” His daughter, Alexandra, a former Annunciation student, expressed heartbreak, saying, “It breaks my heart, makes me sick to my stomach, knowing that there are people I know who are either injured or maybe even killed.”
The Suspect
Robin Westman, identified by police as the shooter, was a 23-year-old former student at Annunciation, having graduated from the school in 2017, according to a yearbook photo cited by CNN. Westman, born Robert Westman, had legally changed their name in 2020 after identifying as female, per court documents obtained by The Guardian and FOX 9. Westman’s mother, a former employee of the school until 2021, was not present during the attack, and her connection to the incident remains under investigation. Police confirmed Westman had no extensive criminal history and had recently purchased the firearms used in the attack legally.
Chief O’Hara revealed that Westman had posted a “manifesto” on YouTube, timed to be released during the attack. The video, which has since been removed with FBI assistance, reportedly showed Westman at the scene, paging through a handwritten notebook, and displaying a shooting target with an image of Jesus alongside a collection of guns, magazines, and ammunition. Authorities are analyzing the video and executing search warrants at four locations, including the church and three residences in the Twin Cities metro area linked to Westman, to uncover more about the motive. While the FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, is investigating the shooting as a potential hate crime targeting Catholics, O’Hara emphasized that no definitive motive has been confirmed.
The Victims and Response
The two children killed, ages 8 and 10, were struck while seated in the church pews. Of the 17 injured, 14 were children aged 6 to 15, and three were octogenarian parishioners. As of Wednesday afternoon, all surviving victims were expected to survive, though several remained in critical condition. Hennepin Healthcare, a Level 1 trauma center, treated 10 patients, including eight children and two adults, with seven in critical condition. Children’s Minnesota Hospital admitted seven children aged 9 to 16, four of whom were discharged by Wednesday afternoon. M Health Fairview’s Masonic Children’s Hospital treated one child, reported to be in stable condition.The quick actions of school staff were credited with saving lives. Annunciation Principal Matt DeBoer praised the “heroic” efforts of teachers who moved students under pews within seconds of the gunfire. “It could have been significantly worse without their heroic action,” DeBoer said. “This is a nightmare, but we call our staff the dream team, and we will recover from this.” The school, which began its academic year on Monday, was evacuated, and students were reunited with families at a designated reunification zone. The church issued a statement vowing to “rebuild our future filled with hope,” with plans to announce when classes will resume over the weekend.
Community and Official Reactions
The shooting, the fifth school shooting in the U.S. in 2025 according to NBC News, has drawn widespread condemnation and grief. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a former teacher, called the attack “horrific” and ordered state flags lowered to half-staff. “Minnesota is heartbroken,” he posted on X. “From the officers responding, to the clergy and teachers providing comfort, to the hospital staff saving lives, we will get through this together. Hug your kids close.” Walz, who spoke with President Donald Trump about the incident, emphasized the need to prevent such tragedies, stating, “It’s my strongest desire that no state, no community, no school ever experiences a day like this.
”President Trump, briefed on the shooting, ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-staff nationwide until Sunday. “The FBI quickly responded, and they are on the scene,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Please join me in praying for everyone involved!” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, visibly emotional, rejected platitudes of “thoughts and prayers,” noting, “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.” Frey urged action to address gun violence, saying, “These were Minneapolis families. These were American families, and the amount of pain that they are suffering right now is extraordinary.”
Former presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill Clinton also expressed grief. Obama, referencing the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, said, “We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to mass shootings.” Clinton called for courage to address the “gun violence epidemic,” while former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, a gun violence survivor, asked, “When will enough be enough?” Colorado Governor Jared Polis ordered flags in his state lowered, stating, “Kids deserve to feel and be safe in our schools.”Local leaders, including Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and Representative Ilhan Omar, shared their heartbreak. Klobuchar recounted a friend’s account of children diving for cover, with one witnessing peers shot in the stomach and neck. Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Saint Paul and Minneapolis thanked Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, for his condolences, which expressed “profound sadness” and prayers for the victims.
Context of Violence in Minneapolis
The Annunciation shooting was the fourth deadly shooting in Minneapolis within 24 hours, following three separate incidents on Tuesday that left three dead and eight injured. Chief O’Hara stated the school shooting does not appear connected to the others. The city has seen a decline in homicides since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 21% decrease in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, according to AH Datalytics. However, Minnesota has experienced over 70 mass shootings since 2014, per the Gun Violence Archive, with the 2005 Red Lake High School shooting remaining the state’s deadliest, claiming 10 lives.Nationally, the K-12 School Shooting Database reported 146 shootings in elementary and secondary schools in 2025 as of August 27. The Annunciation attack follows a recent spate of hoax shooting threats at U.S. colleges, highlighting heightened fears as the school year begins.
Calls for Action
The shooting has intensified calls for gun control. Minneapolis City Council member Emily Greenman labeled gun violence a “national epidemic” and advocated for a national assault weapons ban, citing Minnesota’s existing red flag law and universal background checks. Mayor Frey and Governor Walz echoed the need for stronger measures, with Walz noting the church’s role as a place of “community, service, and family.” Community members, like Arthur Louie, who brought flowers to the police line, expressed devastation, describing Annunciation as a “staple point” in the neighborhood.
As Minneapolis mourns, the investigation continues, with authorities piecing together Westman’s motives and the circumstances that led to this tragedy. The community, supported by local and national leaders, faces the daunting task of healing while grappling with the persistent specter of gun violence in America.
Sources: ABC News, CNN, POLITICO, PBS News, BBC News, The Guardian, The New York Times, Sky News, FOX 9, AP News, NBC News, Al Jazeera, OPB, CBS Minnesota, Minnesota Star Tribune
17GEN4 news
Comments