Unveiling the chilling facts: Newly released search warrants reveal shocking details surrounding the Minneapolis church shooting. Who was the assailant, and what dark ideology fueled this tragic event? The answers are more disturbing than you can imagine.
New search warrants related to the tragic Minneapolis church shooting have unveiled critical details and evidence, painting a clearer picture of the horrific event that claimed two young lives and injured many others. These documents provide investigators with a substantial body of evidence as they continue to piece together the motive behind the senseless act of violence.
The assailant, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, was discovered deceased at the rear of Annunciation Catholic Church, reportedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Westman was dressed in full black tactical gear, with multiple firearms found nearby, following the rampage during a morning Mass. The incident tragically resulted in the deaths of two children and left eighteen other worshippers, including fifteen children, with injuries.
Among the items collected from the church, the search warrant meticulously lists a Taurus semiautomatic pistol, a Mossberg pump-action shotgun, and a Magpul semiautomatic rifle. Additionally, police recovered a wood board, a gas container, and a metal pull pin – components strongly suggesting an intent to create a smoke bomb. Further evidence included a knife, various gloves, headphones, and a gray zip-up sweatshirt, all believed to belong to the shooter.
A commercial van, a 2015 Ram ProMaster City registered to Westman’s father, James Westman, was found parked behind the church with a rifle case openly visible. James Westman later confirmed to police that Robin was his child and had been driving the van. He revealed that Robin had recently experienced a significant breakup and was staying with a friend in St. Louis Park. Pertinently, James Westman also informed investigators that Robin had previously attended Annunciation Church and its school, where her mother had also worked.
The extensive police investigation broadened to include searches of James Westman’s home and two other residences associated with the shooter. From the father’s home, authorities seized a tactical vest, two external media storage devices, and various documents. In total, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is testing 100 pieces of evidence, while a Minneapolis Police Department report lists 158 items, encompassing the firearms, the shooter’s personal effects, and digital devices like a USB and iPhone from the vehicle, crucial for this ongoing police investigation.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the Westman family’s cooperation, though the shooter’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, has not yet spoken to investigators and has retained legal counsel. Authorities have stated that the weapons used were legally purchased, and there was no prior indication of mental illness or any police record for Robin Westman, who was a transgender woman. The question of whether any family members could face charges remains open as the Minneapolis church shooting investigation progresses.
Investigators are still grappling with a clear motive for the precise targeting of children in the pews just before 8:30 a.m. The victims, identified as 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, represent the profound loss endured. This tragic incident, a horrifying example of school violence, has left the community searching for answers amidst the grief.
Crucially, the search warrants and subsequent police review have revealed that Robin Westman maintained an online presence featuring disturbing videos and writings. These included racial slurs, a homophobic slur, antisemitic messages, a call for the death of former President Donald Trump, and references to the Holocaust and the Catholic Church. FBI Special Agent Alvin Winston Sr. characterized the attack as an “act of domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology,” highlighting the disturbing content and its potential role in the tragedy.
A neighbor, Brianna Seidl, living near Westman’s St. Louis Park residence, recounted police swarming the home and calling for a resident to exit, who reportedly complied. This detail adds another layer to the timeline of the extensive police investigation into the aftermath of the devastating church attack, reinforcing the thoroughness of the evidence collection following the Minneapolis shooting.