Minneapolis Catholic School Shooter ID’d as 23-Year-Old Robin Westman

The individual who opened fire through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis during the first Mass of the school year has been identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, according to police.

The attack at Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday, Aug. 27, left two children dead and 17 others injured.

NBC affiliate KARE 11 reported that Westman’s mother previously worked at the south Minneapolis school until her retirement in 2021. Westman is also believed to have attended the school for at least one year and was seen on the grounds within the last week as teachers prepared for the new academic year, the outlet said.

Court records obtained by PEOPLE show that in 2019, Westman’s mother filed to change her child’s name from Robert to Robin. The filing noted that Westman identified “as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.”

Authorities said Westman fired into the church from outside before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the back of the building. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the details during a press conference.

Of the 17 people injured, 14 were children and three were elderly victims in their 80s, O’Hara said. He noted that Westman acted alone, using a rifle, shotgun, and pistol — all of which had been legally purchased.

The two children killed — an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old — were pronounced dead at the scene.

O’Hara added that Westman had no prior criminal record. Investigators also discovered that Westman had scheduled a manifesto to be published on YouTube, which included disturbing writings and video from the scene. The content was removed by federal authorities.

FBI Director Kash Patel later announced on X that the shooting is being investigated as both an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics. He said the agency will continue to release updates “as we are able.”

This remains a developing story.