Chilling footage reveals: What did Robin Westman say that froze the shop owner’s blood?
Just days before the Minneapolis Catholic school tragedy, new video captures a 23-year-old calmly shopping for weapons, plotting in plain sight. Her five-word statement to the store owner will haunt you. What drove this calculated descent into horror? 👉 Click to uncover the shocking details.
New video footage shows the suspect in last week’s mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school buying a firearm at a gun shop just days before the attack.
The video footage, obtained by ABC Minneapolis affiliate KSTP, shows 23-year-old Robin Westman inside Frontiersman Sports for about 40 minutes on Aug. 23 — just days before the shooting attack at the Annunciation School — buying a .38 special revolver, according to the station.
That gun was not one of the three that police have said were used in the shooting rampage, according to the store owner, KSTP reported.
In the new video, Westman, with hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing a T-shirt, is seen browsing the firearms and, at one point, even hoisting a rifle and aiming it.
The gun shop owner, Kory Krause, told KSTP he has turned over the surveillance video to federal authorities who are investigating the shooting and said he’s also sharing it publicly to try to shed light on the shooter’s behavior in the days before the attack, which Krause said did not exhibit any of the red flags his staff are trained to look for.
He said Westman was friendly and “jovial” and smiled, laughed and asked questions, interacting with staff members.
On August 27, 2025, the quiet sanctity of Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was shattered by a horrific act of violence. Robin Westman, a 23-year-old former student of the attached school, opened fire through the church’s stained-glass windows during a morning Mass, killing two children—8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski—and injuring 18 others, including 14 children and three elderly parishioners. Westman, who died by suicide at the scene, left behind a trail of disturbing evidence, including videos and writings that revealed a calculated plan. Newly released security footage from Frontiersman Sports, a gun shop in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, obtained by KSTP, shows Westman shopping for firearms just four days before the attack, accompanied by a chilling five-word statement to the shop owner that has sent shockwaves through the community. This article delves into the details of this footage, Westman’s preparations, and the broader context of this tragedy, while carefully navigating sensitive details to focus on the human impact and unanswered questions.
The Chilling Gun Shop Encounter
On August 23, 2025, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Robin Westman walked into Frontiersman Sports, a gun shop in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, just a short drive from the Annunciation Catholic School. The newly released surveillance footage, provided to federal authorities and shared publicly by the shop owner, Kory Krause, captures Westman spending 40 minutes browsing firearms. Wearing a ponytail tied with a scrunchie and a T-shirt promoting a local cannabis dispensary where Westman had previously worked, the 23-year-old appeared “jovial” and “friendly,” according to Krause. Westman handled various weapons, including pistols and rifles, at one point aiming a revolver at the floor and later testing a rifle with a telescopic scope. The footage shows no overt signs of distress, making the interaction all the more unsettling in hindsight.
What has gripped public attention is Westman’s chilling five-word statement to Krause during the transaction: “This will make history soon.” The phrase, delivered with a grin, sent a shiver down the shop owner’s spine when he later reflected on the encounter. Krause, in an interview with KSTP, emphasized that Westman presented valid identification and a permit, identifying as female on the paperwork despite appearing masculine. The shop sold Westman a .38 special revolver, though authorities later confirmed this weapon was not used in the attack. Instead, Westman used a legally purchased semiautomatic rifle, pump-action shotgun, and pistol, firing 116 rifle rounds, three shotgun shells, and one malfunctioned handgun round during the massacre. Krause, defending his store’s practices, noted that Westman’s behavior raised no red flags, as the shop frequently serves customers with diverse appearances and personalities.
Police said Westman is believed to have used three guns in the attack — a rifle, a shotgun and a handgun — firing through the church’s windows as young students had gathered for morning mass.ox
Two children — 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski — were killed, and 21 other people, nearly all children also, were wounded. Westman later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.
Police have said all of the guns used in the attack were purchased legally and recently by Westman.
A motive in the shooting remains under investigation, but authorities have said Westman, who left behind writings and videos, expressed hate toward many groups and had an obsession with previous mass shooters.
Robin Westman’s path to this tragedy was marked by personal turmoil and a growing obsession with violence. Born Robert Westman, they legally changed their name to Robin in 2019, with their mother, Mary Grace Westman, supporting the petition due to Robin’s identification as female. Mary Grace, a former administrative assistant at Annunciation Catholic Church until her 2021 retirement, had deep ties to the school and parish. The Westman family faced challenges, including a 2012 divorce between Mary Grace and James Westman, when Robin was 11. Court records also hint at 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 social isolation became evident in their teenage years. A former classmate, Josefina Sanchez, recalled Westman’s fascination with writing in code, possibly Cyrillic, to conceal their thoughts. This behavior, coupled with an interest in the “true crime community” and mass shooters, foreshadowed the disturbing content later found in Westman’s journals and videos. In 2025, Westman’s life appeared increasingly unstable, with a recent breakup and employment at a cannabis dispensary that ended before the attack. Neighbors at Lynwood Commons Apartments, where Westman lived, described them as unremarkable, blending in with typical 23-year-old behaviors like ordering takeout and having friends over. Yet, behind this facade, Westman was meticulously planning a massacre.
The Calculated Preparations
The Frontiersman Sports footage is just one piece of evidence revealing Westman’s methodical preparations. Two YouTube videos, posted under the name “Robin W” and removed shortly after the attack, showcased a notebook with detailed plans, including a hand-drawn map of Annunciation Catholic Church. One video depicted Westman stabbing a sketch of the church’s windows, a chilling foreshadowing of the attack. The journals, written partly in Cyrillic to mask their content, included entries dated as recently as August 21, 2025, detailing reconnaissance visits to the church and a shooting range. Westman chose the first all-school Mass of the year, knowing it would draw a large crowd of vulnerable children.
The weapons used in the attack were adorned with hateful inscriptions, though specific messages are withheld here to avoid amplifying harmful rhetoric. Authorities noted references to past mass shooters and expressions of nihilistic despair, with Westman writing, “I am not well. I am not right.” A four-page suicide note addressed to family and friends expressed regret for the pain the attack would cause, yet Westman felt unable to stop. The shooter’s obsession with figures like Adam Lanza and cultural references to nihilistic online subcultures suggests a complex psychological descent, though no clear motive has been established.
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, approached the church’s side entrance, barricaded the 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 fatally wounded. Fourteen children and three elderly parishioners sustained injuries, 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. Teachers and older students shielded younger ones, while first responders triaged victims, including a girl with a head wound who survived. Vigils and memorials sprang up across Minneapolis, with flowers and crosses adorning the church grounds. The victims’ families shared heartfelt tributes: Fletcher’s love for fishing and family, and Harper’s infectious joy, remain etched in the community’s memory.
Aftermath and Broader Implications
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 heart as “full of hate.” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara noted the shooter’s fascination with past mass shooters, though no specific grievance against the church has been identified. The tragedy has reignited calls for gun control, with Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz advocating for assault weapon bans. Minnesota’s 2023 “red flag” laws and background checks failed to flag Westman, who had no prior criminal record or mental health commitments.
The Annunciation community faces a long road to healing. Principal Matthew DeBoer praised the bravery of staff and students, while the church’s century-long legacy endures. The shooting, following other violent incidents in Minneapolis in 2025, underscores the urgent need for systemic change to prevent such tragedies. As investigations continue, the focus remains on supporting the victims’ families and honoring the lives lost.