A mother’s warning ignited a tragedy: Did her stance against transitioning spark Robin Westman’s deadly rage?
A chilling manifesto reveals a shocking truth: Robin Westman blamed their mother’s opposition to their gender transition for the Minneapolis Catholic school tragedy. Two children lost, a community shattered—what drove this 23-year-old to such horror?
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Deranged Minneapolis gunman Robin Westman blamed his mother for his decision to kill “so many people” at a Catholic school after she warned him that he would regret transitioning to female — while in the next line in his manifesto, he discouraged people from letting their kids change gender.
In his disturbed manifesto, Westman, 23, claimed to be anxious about a visit from his mother in an entry dated July 1, where he recalled her concerns about him transitioning.
“Your words, mother, made me stay in my discomfort unable to ask for help to avoid admitting defeat. You were right mama, but the way you handled it led me to wanting to kill so so many people,” he wrote.
In the rambling writings, the crazed gunman also appeared to blame transitioning and smoking marijuana for his violence.
“Gender and weed fucked up my head,” he claimed. “I wish I never tried experimenting with either. Don’t let your kids smoke weed or change gender until they are like seventeen.”
Much of the manifesto is written in a homespun code that uses Cyrillic characters and English phonetic words, which have been translated by The Post.
The July 1 entry included second thoughts Westman was having regarding his gender and worries about what would change during the meeting with his mother, Mary Grace Westman.
“When I was first out to my mother, she was VERY antagonistic. She really made me hate myself and think I will never be good enough,” Westman wrote.
“I remember one day, she said something like, ‘In the future you will look back and feel ridiculous about who you feel like you are inside. You will regret this.’
“Well guess what mom?! I regret being born,” the gunman added.
Mary Grace had signed Westman’s legal name change in 2020 — from Robert to Robin — in apparent support of his gender-identity change. Westman was 17 at the time.
Mary Grace, who once worked at the Annunciation Catholic Church school that Robin graduated from, is now speaking with police after previously refusing to cooperate with the investigation into why her long-troubled, hate-filled son unleashed the heinous attack at his alma mater, investigators said.
“I can tell you this, through working with our partners with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension of Minnesota there has been conversation, and I am not at liberty to go any further than that,” Minneapolis Assistant Chief Christopher Gaiters said during a press conference Friday afternoon.
The mom has retained criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry, according to Fox News.
Despite the antagonistic feelings displayed in the manifesto, Westman penned a separate letter to his family and friends telling them how much he loved them and how his parents shouldn’t blame themselves with how he turned out.
“You did not fail me, you gave me so much. I truly appreciate the love you have given me,” Westman said to his parents. “I feel I was raised to be a good person.
“I’ve kept those traits of empathy, self-sacrifice, and good character. Please do not think you have failed as parents,” he added.
He admitted in a series of disturbing online videos that he regretted being brainwashed into “being trans,” and planned to cut his long hair before unleashing his carnage, in which he planned to kill far more kids.
Westman also wrote that he could neither stop smoking — which he suspected without apparent evidence had given him cancer — nor the attack that claimed two lives and left 18 others wounded at the Annunciation Church on Wednesday.
“I wish I could stop vaping but I can’t! If I could stop vaping, I could stop myself from doing this attack, but I just don’t want to. Stopping vaping will not get rid of my cancer, nor will it make these fantasies go away.”
The twisted gunman eventually put his plan into motion on Wednesday, when he opened fire through the church’s stained glass windows during morning Mass, killing an 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moysk.
Westman unloaded 116 rifle rounds and turned the gun on himself before authorities could reach him.
A Mother’s Opposition and a Manifesto
According to law enforcement sources cited by local media, Westman’s manifesto, posted online shortly before the attack and later removed, revealed a deeply personal grievance against their mother, Mary Grace Westman. Mary Grace, a former administrative assistant at Annunciation Catholic Church until her 2021 retirement, was a respected figure in the parish. In 2019, she supported Robin’s legal name change from Robert to Robin, reflecting their identification as female at age 17. However, the manifesto alleges that Mary Grace later expressed strong opposition to further steps in Robin’s gender transition, citing concerns rooted in her Catholic faith and fears about the irreversible nature of such decisions. Westman described this opposition as a profound betrayal, claiming it deepened their sense of isolation and anger, ultimately contributing to their decision to carry out the attack.
The manifesto’s broader message was equally disturbing, urging parents to prevent their children from transitioning and framing transgender acceptance as a societal ill. While specific excerpts are withheld here to avoid amplifying harmful rhetoric, investigators noted that Westman’s writings blended personal resentment with references to past mass shooters and nihilistic despair. The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and an anti-Catholic hate crime, with Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson describing Westman’s motives as a “complex mix of personal and ideological hatred.” The focus on their mother’s opposition adds a deeply personal dimension to the tragedy, though experts caution against attributing the attack solely to this conflict.
A Life Marked by Chaos
Robin Westman’s path to this tragedy was fraught with personal turmoil. Born Robert Westman, they grew up in suburban Minneapolis, attending Annunciation Catholic School and participating in church activities due to their mother’s role in the parish. The family faced significant disruption in 2012 when Mary Grace and James Westman divorced, leaving 11-year-old Robin to navigate a fractured home. Court records hint at further instability, with a “criminal offense” reported at the family home in 2019 and a “mental health” incident involving a juvenile in 2021, though it’s unclear if these directly involved Robin.
Westman’s teenage years were marked by social isolation. Former classmates described them as a loner with few friends, often engaging in cryptic behaviors like writing in code, possibly Cyrillic, to conceal their thoughts. By 2025, Westman’s life appeared increasingly unstable. They briefly worked at a cannabis dispensary in Eagan, Minnesota, but left the job in mid-August 2025, citing personal issues. A recent breakup with a romantic partner, as revealed by James Westman, further compounded their distress. Neighbors at Lynwood Commons Apartments, where Westman lived, described them as unremarkable, blending into the community with typical young adult behaviors like ordering takeout. Yet, behind this facade, Westman was descending into violence.
Meticulous Planning
The Minneapolis shooting was the result of months of calculated preparation. Westman’s journals, partially written in Cyrillic to mask their content, detailed reconnaissance visits to Annunciation Catholic Church and a nearby shooting range. Two YouTube videos, posted under the name “Robin W” and removed shortly after the attack, showcased a notebook with a hand-drawn map of the church’s layout and plans for the massacre. Entries dated as recently as August 16, 2025, expressed despair and inevitability, with Westman writing, “I am not well. I am not right.” The shooter legally purchased a semiautomatic rifle, pump-action shotgun, and pistol, using them to fire 116 rifle rounds, three shotgun shells, and one malfunctioned handgun round during the attack.
Westman chose the first all-school Mass of the year, knowing it would draw a large crowd of vulnerable children. The weapons bore inscriptions referencing past mass shooters and hateful sentiments, though specific messages are withheld here to avoid amplifying harmful rhetoric. A four-page suicide note addressed to family and friends expressed regret for the pain the attack would cause but also a chilling resolve to proceed, with explicit references to their mother’s opposition to their transition as a driving force.
The Day of the Attack
On August 27, 2025, at 8:15 a.m., Annunciation Catholic Church was filled with students and parishioners celebrating the start of the school year. Westman, dressed in black tactical gear, approached the church, barricaded the side doors, and began firing through the stained-glass windows. The attack lasted mere minutes but left devastation in its wake. Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, both sitting in the pews, were killed. Fourteen children aged 6 to 15 and three elderly parishioners were injured, with most expected to recover. The church’s locked-door policy likely prevented Westman from entering, saving countless lives. Westman died by suicide in the parking lot, leaving behind a minivan registered to their father.
The community’s response was immediate and heroic. Teachers and older students shielded younger ones under pews, while first responders triaged victims, including a girl with a head wound who survived. Vigils sprang up across Minneapolis, with flowers and crosses forming a makeshift memorial outside the church. Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, described his son as a vibrant child who loved fishing and family, while Harper’s parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, called their daughter a “bright, joyful” 10-year-old whose light endures.
Investigating the Motive
The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and an anti-Catholic hate crime, with Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara noting Westman’s obsession with past mass shooters, including figures like Adam Lanza. The manifesto’s focus on Mary Grace’s opposition to their gender transition suggests a deeply personal motive, but extremism analysts caution against oversimplifying the cause. Westman’s writings included a cryptic statement: “The message is there is no message,” pointing to a nihilistic worldview rather than a coherent ideology. References to online subcultures that glorify violence, such as “Saints Culture,” further complicate the motive.
The claim about discouraging parents from allowing their children to transition has sparked intense debate about family dynamics, mental health, and societal pressures around gender identity. However, investigators emphasize that Westman’s actions were influenced by a broader fascination with violence and nihilism, not solely their mother’s stance. The absence of a prior criminal record or documented mental health diagnoses allowed Westman to legally purchase firearms, raising questions about the effectiveness of Minnesota’s “red flag” laws.
Community Response and Policy Implications
The Annunciation shooting has reignited debates about gun violence and mental health support in America. Minnesota’s 2023 “red flag” laws and universal background checks failed to flag Westman, who had no prior convictions. Advocates like Mayor Jacob Frey and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar have called for bans on assault weapons, citing the 116 rifle rounds fired in the attack. The tragedy, following other violent incidents in Minneapolis in 2025, underscores the need for systemic reform to address gun access and mental health challenges.
The Annunciation community remains resilient but deeply scarred. Principal Matthew DeBoer praised the bravery of staff and students, while the church’s century-long legacy endures. Vigils and memorials continue to honor Fletcher and Harper, whose families have called for change to ensure their deaths are not in vain. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on healing and prevention.