A tragic school shooting in Minneapolis has unveiled a disturbing internal conflict. The shooter’s journal entries reveal profound regret over their trans identity, expressing feelings of being ‘tired of being trans’ and ‘brainwashed.’ What led to such a profound identity crisis and ultimately, this horrific act?
The tragic events at a Catholic school in Minneapolis recently brought to light a deeply disturbing narrative, as the trans-identifying individual responsible for the fatal shooting of two children and wounding over a dozen others penned a journal entry expressing profound regret and fatigue with their identity. This raw confession, indicating a feeling of having “brain-washed” oneself, offers a harrowing glimpse into the shooter’s internal turmoil leading up to the horrific act.
Reports suggest the journal, purportedly belonging to Robin Westman, 23, born Robert Westman, meticulously documented the dark thoughts that consumed the perpetrator. Written in a curious blend of Russian Cyrillic script and English, these entries specifically highlighted Westman’s evolving and ultimately regretful stance on their transgender identity, a detail that adds a complex layer to the motivation behind the violence, and a significant aspect of the Minneapolis shooting.
Within the journal’s pages, Westman articulated a clear struggle with gender expression, writing, “I only keep [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.” This passage underscores a profound sense of exhaustion and disillusionment with an identity Westman had seemingly embraced but later came to resent.
Further insights into Westman’s internal conflict were revealed in another journal entry, stating, “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.” This candid admission highlights a deeply personal battle with self-perception, indicating a fluid and unresolved transgender identity that contributed to a palpable sense of internal dissonance.
The individual officially changed their name to Robin in 2020, citing a desire to reflect a female identification. At the time, Westman was a minor, requiring parental consent for the legal name change. While the record confirms this shift, it remains unconfirmed whether Westman pursued hormone therapy or surgical interventions to further align with this chosen identity, leaving certain aspects of their transition ambiguous.
A significant detail in the unfolding tragedy is Westman’s personal connection to Annunciation Catholic School, the site of the attack. Westman’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, served as a secretary at the institution for five years before her retirement in 2021. Furthermore, Westman was an alumnus, having graduated from the K-8 school in 2017, suggesting a deep-seated familiarity with the environment that became the scene of devastation and Catholic school violence.
Hours before the shooting, videos posted on an account linked to Westman displayed weapons adorned with overt political and religious messages. Phrases such as “Kill Donald Trump” and “Where’s your God?” were visible, signaling a potent mix of political animosity and anti-religious sentiment that seemingly fueled the perpetrator’s mindset and actions on that fateful day.
This incident marks the second time in recent history that a trans-identifying individual has been implicated in a fatal attack on a Christian school. Just a year prior, in March 2023, a female identifying as a man committed a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, resulting in the deaths of three children and three adults. These distressing parallels underscore the urgent need for addressing mental health challenges, understanding complex transgender identity issues, and preventing further gun violence in our communities, particularly in school shooting contexts.
