Minneapolis School Shooting Suspect Left Disturbing Final Message to Family Before Killing Two Children
The first week back to school in Minneapolis turned into tragedy when 23-year-old Robin Westman unleashed gunfire outside Annunciation Catholic Church, killing two children and wounding 17 others.
Authorities later revealed that only hours before the rampage, Westman recorded a series of unsettling online posts — including a written farewell to family and friends that now reads like a chilling final plea.
A “Mass Casualty” Emergency
The shooting erupted Wednesday as families and students gathered, shattering what should have been an ordinary school day. Armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, Westman opened fire, leaving chaos and devastation in their wake.
Doctors at Hennepin Healthcare described the scene as nothing short of catastrophic. “We were alerted to a mass casualty situation,” said Dr. Thomas Wyatt. “Seven patients arrived in critical condition, four went immediately into surgery. Most of them were children.”
Among the 11 treated at the hospital, nine were between the ages of six and fourteen.
Troubled Past and Family Ties
Police confirmed that Westman, a former student of the school, had been seen visiting the grounds in the days before the attack. Their mother worked at the school until retiring in 2021, making the location tragically personal.
Court filings also show that at 17, Westman petitioned to legally change their name in 2020, noting a desire for their identity to reflect a transition.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Westman died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Hours Before the Shooting
In the early hours of that morning, Westman uploaded several disturbing YouTube videos, including what investigators are calling a manifesto. Authorities say the videos have since been removed.
A journal found later revealed a deep fixation on mass violence, written in English but using the Russian Cyrillic alphabet — a strange detail underscoring the suspect’s obsessive mindset.
The Suicide Letter
The message began with an apology that now feels haunting in its calm tone:
“I don’t expect forgiveness, and I don’t expect any apology. To my family and those close to me, I apologise for the effects my actions will have on your lives. Please know I care for all of you so much, and it pains me to bring this storm of chaos into your lives.”
Westman insisted their parents should not feel responsible:
“Please do not think you have failed as parents. I was corrupted by this world and have learned to hate what life is. Life is love, life is pain. I am tired of the pain this world gives out.”
The letter also referenced mental health struggles and a belief they were dying of lung cancer caused by vaping:
“I don’t want the rest of my life to be as a cancer patient, in and out of hospitals, constantly being fretted about. I don’t want people afraid to be too happy around me.”
In its closing lines, the letter shifted focus back to the victims:
“Pray for the victims and their families.”
A Nation Once Again in Mourning
The Minneapolis tragedy has become yet another painful reminder of the vulnerability of children in a country grappling with the ongoing crisis of gun violence. Two young lives were cut short, seventeen others forever changed — and a community is left searching for answers in the words of a note that offered none.