Minneapolis School Shooting at Annunciation Church: Inside Robin Westman’s Letter, Motives, and Community Grief

A tragic and horrible Minneapolis School Shooting at Annunciation Church: Inside Robin Westman’s Letter, Motives, and Community Grief. The city of Minneapolis has been left reeling after a devastating school shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church, one of the most horrifying attacks on children in the city’s history.

On Wednesday morning, what began as a routine Mass for the start of the school year turned into chaos and bloodshed when 23-year-old Robin Westman opened fire inside the church. Two children 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski were killed, and 17 others were wounded in the attack. The victims included 14 children and three elderly parishioners.

The shooter, a former student of the school, carried out the massacre with multiple firearms before taking her own life in the church parking lot. As families grieve and investigators search for answers, the tragedy has reignited debates over gun laws, school safety, mental health, and America’s ongoing struggle with mass shootings targeting children.

Minneapolis School Shooting at Annunciation Church: Inside Robin Westman’s Letter, Motives, and Community Grief

The Attack at Annunciation Church

Morning Mass Turns to Horror

On Wednesday morning, nearly 200 children gathered inside Annunciation Catholic Church in south Minneapolis for Mass.

At 8:30 a.m., witnesses say, the stained-glass windows of the church shattered as Westman opened fire with a rifle. Armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, she stormed inside.

Children screamed, dove under pews, and tried to escape as the gunfire erupted.

Authorities confirmed that Westman barricaded the doors with wooden planks, trapping students and parishioners inside while continuing to fire.

Parents who rushed to the scene described children running out of the church covered in blood.

Casualties Confirmed

Police confirmed:

• 2 children killed: Fletcher Merkel (8), Harper Moyski (10)
• 17 injured: 14 children (ages 6–15) and 3 elderly parishioners (all in their 80s)
• 1 child remains critical, others recovering in hospitals

The shooter ended the assault by turning the gun on herself in the church parking lot.

Who Was Robin Westman?

Background and Identity

Born Robert Paul Westman, Robin grew up attending Annunciation Catholic School and had longstanding ties to the parish. Her mother, Mary Westman, worked at the school until 2021.

In 2020, Westman legally changed her name to Robin and identified as female. Despite this, law enforcement officials inconsistently referred to her as male in press conferences, sparking criticism.

Police Chief Brian O’Hara urged media not to focus on the shooter’s name, citing concerns about granting notoriety a factor in many copycat mass shootings.

The Chilling Letter to Family

Before the massacre, Westman uploaded a disturbing YouTube video showing her firearms and ammunition, many inscribed with hate-filled messages, including:

• Anti-Semitic slurs
• Anti-Catholic phrases
• Violent threats against Donald Trump

In the video, she displayed a handwritten letter addressed to family and friends.

Excerpts from the Letter

• “I don’t expect forgiveness. I do apologize for the effects my actions will have on your lives.”
• “You didn’t fail me. I just didn’t turn out the way you hoped.”
• “I was corrupted by this world and have learned to hate what life is.”
• “Please continue to give your love to my brothers and sisters. Change your names if you must.”
• “Pray for the victims and their families. I love you.”

The letter shows a deep depression and fixation on violence. While she expressed regret for the pain inflicted on her family, there was no apology for the act itself.

The Shooter’s Motives: “Obsessed With Killing Children”

Law Enforcement Findings

Authorities say Westman’s motives remain murky but chilling.

Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara said bluntly:

“More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children. She appeared to hate all of us.”

Disturbing Writings

Investigators uncovered:

• Hundreds of pages of writings filled with violent fantasies
• Lists of mass shooters’ names
• Grievances against religious groups
• Journal entries written in Cyrillic script

Some of the most disturbing messages scrawled on her weapons and journals included:

• “Israel must fall.”
• “Free Palestine.”
• “Kill Donald Trump.”
• “Where is your God?”

No Clear Political Agenda

Although her writings contained antisemitic and political statements, officials emphasized that the attack did not resemble a coherent manifesto.

Instead, it reflected personal obsessions, mental turmoil, and violent fantasies.

Journal Entries: “The Message Is There Is No Message”

CNN and federal investigators reviewed Westman’s journals and YouTube videos.

Early Obsessions

• Westman admitted a fixation with mass shootings since 7th grade.
• She wrote: “Every school I went to, I have some fantasy of shooting up my school. Even every job.”
• Classmates recalled her as “different,” but not violent.

Cyrillic Notebooks

• Journals often used Cyrillic letters to disguise writings.
• Entries included sketches of the church layout with pews, aisles, and windows marked.
• One chilling video showed her stabbing the sketch with a knife.

Internal Struggle

Her journals contained contradictions:

• “FIND ME I AM BEGGING FOR HELP, I AM SCREAMING FOR HELP.”
• “I don’t want to f**king do this I hate myself. I cannot stop myself.”
• “This is not a church or religion attack, that is not the message. The message is there is no message.”

Families Remember Fletcher and Harper

Fletcher Merkel, 8

His father, Jesse Merkel, said:

“Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us. Fletcher loved his family, fishing, cooking, and any sport. Give your kids an extra hug today. We love you, Fletcher. You’ll always be with us.”

Harper Moyski, 10

Her parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, said:

“Harper was a bright, joyful, deeply loved 10-year-old whose laughter touched everyone. Our family is shattered, but we hope Harper’s memory fuels action to stop gun violence.”

Eyewitness Accounts of the Shooting

• Patrick Scallen, nearby resident, helped a wounded girl:
  “She begged me, ‘Please hold my hand, don’t leave me.’”
• Vincent Francoual, parent:
  “My daughter thought she was going to die. It’s sick that children in America are trained for this.”

Community Response

Leaders Speak Out

• Mayor Jacob Frey: “We’re not talking about hunting rifles. We’re talking about guns designed to kill people quickly. Change is possible and necessary.”
• Governor Tim Walz ordered increased security at schools and called for assault weapon bans and magazine restrictions.

Copycat Killings

Officials and experts warn this tragedy follows a copycat pattern:

• Obsession with past shooters
• Detailed planning
• Desire for notoriety

The FBI has long warned of this dangerous cycle.

America’s Struggle With School Shootings

From Columbine to Sandy Hook to Uvalde, mass shootings in schools remain a painful reality in the United States.

Parents like Francoual express daily fear:

“Every morning, when we drop our kids off, we don’t know if they’ll come back safe.”

This tragedy highlights the intersection of mental health crises, easy access to firearms, and failures to intervene despite warning signs.

Conclusion: A Community in Grief, A Nation in Debate

The Annunciation Church shooting has devastated Minneapolis, claiming two young lives and wounding dozens of others.

Robin Westman’s letter, journals, and chilling final acts paint a portrait of a young woman consumed by obsession, despair, and violence.

Yet, the haunting words from her journal linger:

“The message is there is no message.”

For grieving families, devastated classmates, and a shaken community, the tragedy raises painful questions:

• How do we identify warning signs earlier?
• How do we protect children from the recurring horror of mass shootings?
• How can America balance gun rights with urgent public safety?

Until these questions find answers, the memory of Fletcher and Harper will serve as a reminder of the cost of inaction.

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