Transgender mass shooter Robin Westman complained about being ‘tired of being trans’ and had been ‘brainwashed’ in a chilling manifesto before killing two children in a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church.
Court records seen by the Daily Mail reveal Westman, 23, was previously known as Robert, before changing name in 2020.
According to court papers filed in Dakota County, Minnesota from the time, Westman wanted to the name Robin to reflect that ‘[identifying] as a woman’.
But in a handwritten manifesto shared by the shooter in a YouTube video before opening fire, Westman appeared to question that decision.
‘I only keep [the long hair] because it is pretty much my last shred of being trans. I am tired of being trans, I wish I never brain-washed myself,’ the killer wrote in a scrawled cryptic message.
‘I can’t cut my hair now as it would be an embarrassing defeat, and it might be a concerning change of character that could get me reported.
‘It just always gets in my way. I will probably chop it on the day of the attack.’
Westman also wrote about struggling with how to identify, adding: ‘I don’t want to dress girly all the time but I guess sometimes I really like it. I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man.’
Transgender mass shooter Robin Westman complained about being ‘tired of being trans’ and had been ‘brainwashed’ in a chilling manifesto before killing two children in a Minneapolis Catholic church on Wednesday
Westman’s twisted manifesto and goodbye letter (pictured) has been unearthed in the aftermath of the deadly shooting, offering some clues into what went through the killer’s mind
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday he has ordered a probe into the killer’s potential use of gender-affirming care drugs.
The health secretary told Fox & Friends an investigation would be launched to determine whether drugs Westman may have used to transition to a woman played ‘a role’ in the mass shooting.
‘We are doing those kind of studies now,’ he said.
‘We are launching studies into their potential contribution.’
‘Some of the SSRI drugs and some other psychiatric drugs might be contributing to violence,’ RFK Jr added referring to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
‘Many of them have black-box warnings that warn of suicidal ideation and homicidal ideation. So we can’t exclude those as a culprit, and those are the kind of studies we are doing.’
It is unclear if Westman had taken any gender-affirming medications.
A name change filing from 2020, reviewed by the Daily Mail, reveals Westman identified ‘as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification’.
Under Minnesota law, changing legal name is far more straightforward than if an individual wishes to change their official birth certificate.
Westman only had to petition for the name change, but to alter a birth certificate, the killer would need a doctor’s letter showing ‘medical certification of appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition.’
It is not known if the killer ever tried to do this, and it is unclear if doctors ever prescribed medication for Westman’s gender transition.
Westman shared a manifesto (pictured) in a video posted on a since-deleted YouTube account, including an apparent layout of the church
Court records seen by the Daily Mail reveal Westman had previously been known as Robert, before petitioning to change gender
Westman’s mother Mary Grace Westman was a signatory to the name change application.
But, according to a former employee at Annunciation Catholic School, Mary struggled with her child’s transition.
Mary had confided in the employee that Westman was transgender and identified as a girl and admitted: ‘I don’t know how I feel about this.’
‘I think she was struggling with her Catholic faith… She didn’t know how she felt, but it weighed heavily on her,’ the employee said.
Over the years, Mary had also reportedly voiced concerns over Westman’s behavior at school and social issues.
Westman didn’t have any friends in eighth grade and was disruptive in class, often being sent to the principal’s office, the employee said.
The killer used three guns to open fire on children as they prayed at Annunciation Catholic School – the institution Westman (pictured) graduated from eighth grade in 2017, and where the shooter’s mother worked as a parish secretary
The twisted killer died by suicide after opening fire at the Annunciation Catholic School and Church in south Minneapolis around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Two young children, aged 8 and ten, were killed in the shooting while 18 other victims were wounded.
The injured victims – 15 children and three elderly church parishioners – are all expected to survive.
Haunting 911 audio captured the unfolding horror Wednesday morning as first responders rushed to the scene.
Emergency dispatch audio revealed the moment medical teams urged their colleagues to ‘bring all the gauze you have’ to treat the victims.
‘Minneapolis has a possible active shooter,’ one of the first responders said, and another said there were ‘two DOAs inside the church’ – meaning two would be ‘dead on arrival’.
‘We have… two patients with gunshot wounds to their heads in front. There’s also a critical patient in the rear of the church,’ another responder said over the radio.
Not long after opening fire, Westman died by suicide, and a dispatcher could be heard relaying: ‘We have one suspect with a gunshot wound to the head – has a rifle and shotgun – he’s down right now.’
Police are now investigating the killer’s motive for the shooting, including probing the disturbing videos posted on Westman’s since-deleted YouTube account.
In one 20-minute video, Westman showed off a kill-kit of ammunition, magazines and firearms, while revealing a twisted obsession with school shooters, along with a dislike of President Donald Trump, and mockery of the Church.
Westman also showed the camera pages of handwritten notes in a final letter to family and friends.
In the letter, Westman claimed to have cancer caused by a vaping habit.
‘I think I am dying of cancer. It’s a tragic end as it’s entirely self inflicted. I did this to myself as I cannot control myself and have been destroying my body through vaping and other means,’ the shooter wrote.
Westman went on to write about wanting ‘to go out on my own means’.
It comes as haunting 911 audio revealed the moment first responders urged their colleagues to ‘bring all the gauze you have’ as they raced to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in South Minneapolis around 8:30am Wednesday
Emergency responders warned there were at least ‘two DOAs inside the church’ – meaning two would be ‘dead on arrival’ – after the shooting at the school
‘Unfortunately, due to my depression, anger and twisted mind, I want to fulfill a final act that has been in the back of my head for years,’ Westman wrote.
The note was signed with the name ‘Robin M Westman, 2002-2025’ and what appeared to be a bird drawing.
As well as the warped letter, the video also showed a stash of gun magazines, with white writing scrawled on them.
Several school shooters’ names including ‘Lanza’ for Sandy Hook mass shooter Adam Lanza was seen on some of the cartridges.
One of the other cartridges was labeled: ‘For the children.’
