The silence in Richfield was shattered by an unspeakable act. New details emerge about Robin Westman, the individual identified in the tragic Annunciation Church shooting. From family history to employment and a legal name change, the portrait of a life takes shape amidst profound grief. What led to such a horrific day, and what more will the ongoing investigation uncover?
The quiet community of Richfield was shattered by an unimaginable tragedy this past Wednesday, as authorities identified Robin Westman as the suspect in a devastating shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church. The horrific event resulted in the loss of two children and left seventeen others injured, sending shockwaves through the local area and prompting an immediate, intense investigation.
Westman, aged 23 at the time of death, was found to have succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, bringing an end to the immediate threat but deepening the mystery surrounding the motives behind such a violent act. Public records indicate Westman was one of three children born to Mary Grace Westman and James Allen Westman, whose marriage ended in divorce in 2013 after a quarter-century. At the time of the familial separation, the family resided in Hastings.
A poignant connection to the Annunciation Church emerged through Westman’s mother, Mary Westman, who had served as a parish secretary. A Facebook post from 2021 by church officials specifically lauded her for her “wonderful hospitality,” painting a picture of a past deeply intertwined with the very institution that became the scene of the tragedy. On Wednesday, a distraught Mary Westman, crying, told a reporter she did not know if her child was the shooter before abruptly ending the call, highlighting the profound personal anguish unfolding.
Details regarding Westman’s educational journey offer further insights, with a yearbook entry from Annunciation indicating plans to attend Powell Leadership Academy in Minneapolis. While it remains unclear if Westman fully enrolled there, an official from Minnesota Transitions Charter School confirmed attendance at one of its institutions for a brief three-month period, concluding in October 2017, suggesting a transient educational path.
A significant aspect of Westman’s personal history came to light with the legal name change to Robin M. Westman in 2020. Court documents reveal the mother sought this change on the grounds that her child “identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification,” offering a glimpse into evolving personal identity. However, the specific gender Westman identified with more recently remains unconfirmed, adding another layer of complexity to their public profile.
Recent employment records show Westman was briefly an employee of Green Thumb Industries, the parent company of Rise medical cannabis dispensaries, earlier this year. A spokesperson for the company confirmed this but stated Westman was no longer employed by the firm at the time of the shootings. Green Thumb Industries released a statement expressing profound sadness over the tragic events and offering condolences to the victims, their families, and the impacted community, pledging full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has taken charge of the comprehensive investigation, meticulously examining Westman’s apartment in Richfield and piecing together the events that culminated in the Annunciation Church tragedy. As the community grapples with profound grief and seeks answers, authorities continue their work to understand the full scope of this senseless act of violence and its far-reaching consequences.
