Minnesota shooter Robin Westman had faced disciplinary action at work weeks before the fatal massacre at her former Catholic school.
Westman opened fire, killing two young children and injuring 17 other people as they sat in the pews during the Wednesday morning liturgy at Annunciation Catholic Church.
New details are starting to emerge about the shooter and their motives, after Westman posted a series of twisted YouTube videos showing off a handwritten manifesto and stashes of ammunition.
The killer left her job at a marijuana dispensary just weeks before Wednesday’s attack after being disciplined over her attendance and allegedly making distressing comments in the workplace.
Westman, formerly known as Robert, was a transgender anti-Trump 23-year-old and previously attended the school.
The shooter’s mother Mary, a former school employee, erupted into tears and was audibly distraught when local reporters approached her about the rampage.
Minnesota shooter was recently DISCIPLINED at weed shop and made creepy comments, former co-worker claims
Annunciation Catholic School shooter Robin Westman had been planning an act of violence for a long time, a former co-worker has claimed.
Westman, 23, had been working at a cannabis dispensary in Eagan, about 17 miles from Minneapolis, until August 16 this year.
The shooter voluntarily left her role at Rise, with a colleague alleging the decision came after a series of disciplinary action.
The co-worker, speaking to the Star Tribune on the condition of anonymity, said Westman had been disciplined for tardiness and skipping work.
The employee also alleged Westman made comments during her employment that suggested ‘recent events have been the catalyst for this thing [she] has been planning for a long time’.
A spokesperson for Rise’s parent company Green Thumb Industries confirmed Westman had worked at the dispensary for several months this year, but was not an employee at the time of Wednesday’s horrific shooting.
‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred today in Minnesota,’ the spokesperson said, adding that their ‘deepest condolences go out to the victims, their families and the entire community impacted by this senseless act of violence’.
Who is the Minneapolis school shooter?
Robin Westman shot through stained glass windows at children sitting praying on the pews inside Annunciation Catholic School’s church at about 8.30am local time Wednesday.
Westman, a transgender woman who changed her name from Robert in 2019, was armed with three guns – a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, police said.
Westman, 23, fired all three weapons, which police said were purchased legally, during the attack.
In a deranged video posted on YouTube, the shooter explained how she was ‘feeling good’ about committing a ‘devastating tragedy’ at Annunciation Catholic School.
Westman also showed a rifle magazine labeled ‘For the children, hahahahahahaha.’
Westman, previously known as Robert, petitioned to have her name changed in 2019. According to court papers filed in Dakota County, Minnesota, Westman asked the court to change her name to Robin.
Westman’s mother Mary sign the application for a name change as she was still a minor at the time.
The petition was later approved in January of 2020, it adds that Westman: ‘Identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.’
But Robin appeared to have some confusion about her gender.
‘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,’ she wrote.
‘I really like my outfit. I look pretty, smart and modest. I think I want to wear something like this for my shooting.’
The Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey denounced transphobia after the revelations about Westman’s identity.
Community rallies together at prayer services and press conference
Minneapolis is in mourning today after Robin Westman opened fire on praying students and staff yesterday.
Police are continuing their investigation into the fatal massacre as community members rally together to support the victims and their families.
Prayer services and a news briefing are expected to take place throughout the day as the city seeks a path forward.
Here are the events scheduled for Thursday:
Prayer service of peace and healing: Cathedral of St. Paul, 12pm CT (1pm ET)
News briefing: Minneapolis City Hall, 1pm CT (2pm ET) – The briefing will be attended by state lawmakers, gun violence activists and clergy members.
Interfaith service: Basilica of St. Mary, 5.30pm CT (5.30pm ET)
Final plea made by Minnesota school shooter in suicide note
Robin Westman, 23, posted a suicide note to a now-deleted YouTube page just hours before shooting through stained glass windows at children sitting on the pews inside Annunciation Catholic School’s church on Wednesday morning.
The shooter explained in a note the reason for carrying out the attack in Minneapolis, while apologizing to her family and friends – and offered one final request.
‘Pray for the victims and their families,’ Westman concluded her rambling note, despite having a rifle magazine labeled ‘For the children, hahahahahahaha.’
Earlier in the letter, Westman wrote about struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts for years – which were apparently aggravated by the belief she was dying of cancer from vaping.
Robin Westman, 23, then a boy known as ‘Robert’, wrote an ode to death titled ‘But Not The End’ outlining concerns death would come with ‘regrets that my name not be known for something more’, according to the Star Tribune.
The chilling note came from Westman’s time as a pupil at St. Thomas Academy, a Catholic all-boys school in Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, where students are referred to as cadets, wear uniform and are trained in military skills.
It was one of several schools Westman attended during a seemingly turbulent childhood that included going to one school for just three months, watching a parental divorce and struggling with his gender identity.
The FBI has described Westman’s attack as a hate crime against Catholics, while police are still investigating the motive.
Pictured: Robin Westman in her 2021 high school graduation photograph
Distressing reaction of Robin Westman’s mother on being asked about massacre
Minnesota shooter Robin Westman’s mother appeared distraught over the horrific massacre at Annunciation Catholic School.
Westman, whose mother Mary formerly worked at the school, was broken down in tears when the Star Tribune called her in wake of the tragedy.
The newspaper approached Mary just a few hours after the rampage and appeared ‘distraught’ as she cried on the phone.
She said at the time that she did not know if her daughter was the shooter.
Mary provided ‘wonderful hospitality’ at the school before her 2021 retirement and has five other children.
Westman, previously been known as Robert, petitioned to have her name changed in 2019 because she ‘identifies as a female’. According to court papers filed in Dakota County, Minnesota, Westman asked the court to change her name to Robin.
Mary signed the application for a name change as she was still a minor at the time.
Pictured: Mary and Robert Westman
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Robin Westman was DISCIPLINED at work weeks before Minneapolis shooting, as mom’s distraught reaction is revealed: Live updates
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