Minneapolis School Shooting: What Her Yearbooks and Home Address Reveal

Who Was Robin Westman? Inside the Mind of the Minneapolis Mass Shooter “Who Is Robin Westman? The Minneapolis Mass Shooter at Annunciation Catholic School — Full Profile, Motive, and Investigation.

Robin Westman (R) has been identified as the suspect behind the deadly shooting the Minneapolis school

The Minneapolis community is reeling from one of the most shocking school shootings in recent memory. On August 27, Robin Westman, a 23-year-old transgender woman, stormed into Annunciation Catholic School, armed with three firearms, killing two children and injuring seventeen others before turning the gun on herself.

While federal authorities investigate potential motives — including anti-Catholic bias and domestic terrorism — attention is turning toward Westman’s past, specifically where she lived and what school records reveal about her early years.

Where Did Robin Westman Live?

Westman lived in Richfield, a quiet suburb just south of Minneapolis. According to property and court records, her family home is located less than a mile from Annunciation Catholic School — the same church and school where the attack took place.

This geographical proximity was no coincidence. Her mother, Mary Grace Westman, worked at the school as a parish secretary from 2016 until 2021. Police have now confirmed that the family’s home has been searched and sealed off by the FBI, who are scouring it for clues about the shooter’s mindset, planning process, and digital activity.

The closeness of her residence to the attack site isn’t just logistical — it's emotional and symbolic. Investigators believe the location was specifically chosen due to its personal significance.

What Do Yearbook Records Say About Robin Westman?

Yearbooks have revealed critical, humanizing, and chilling insights into Robin Westman’s early life — and possible warning signs.

Annunciation Catholic School (Graduated 8th Grade, 2017)

Westman completed her middle school education here. In the 2017 yearbook, she offered advice to younger students using a quote from Daft Punk’s hit “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” Though seemingly playful, it hints at a drive for self-improvement — or possibly, performance-based identity.

Powell Leadership Academy (Briefly Attended, Fall 2017)

Westman’s stint at this charter school lasted barely three months. Staff described her as “quiet and withdrawn,” with no documented behavioral issues. She left abruptly, which some now interpret as part of a pattern of academic instability.

St. Thomas Academy (Enrolled in 2018)

A Catholic, all-boys military prep school, where Westman wrote a haunting poem in the school journal titled:
“But Not The End”

"Let me be remembered not for how I left, but for what I tried to become. Even if I fail, let my name not be known for something more."

The writing, unearthed by former classmates, reads like a premonition — laced with themes of regret, legacy, and despair.

Southwest High School (Graduated 2021)

By 2021, Westman had transferred again and graduated under her new legal name. Her name change — from Robert Paul Westman to Robin M. Westman — was finalized in 2020, after she legally declared her gender as female.

What Does This Tell Us About Her Mental State?

Taken together, the records sketch a picture of a young person deeply disconnected, fluid in identity, and searching for belonging. While her academic records don’t indicate disciplinary issues, her writing, school transitions, and social withdrawal suggest an internal storm.

Investigators also uncovered a four-page suicide letter, in which she referred to herself as a “monster,” mentioned a delusion of having cancer, and expressed intense regret.

How Does This Fit With What’s Known About the Attack?

Westman entered the church at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the shooting with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol. All were legally purchased in the past year. She barricaded the doors, fired through stained-glass windows, and targeted both students and elderly parishioners during a morning Mass.

Evidence found at her home and online includes:

• Weapons etched with phrases like “Kill Donald Trump”, anti-Catholic slurs, and references to other mass shooters

• Self-made YouTube videos, some featuring her discussing past trauma, rage, and a desire to “leave a mark”

• Sketches of church attacks, accompanied by cryptic poems and disturbing ideologies

Community and Political Reactions

Mayor Jacob Frey

“This violence cannot be used to demonize an entire community. Her identity does not explain this horror. Her pain does.”

Governor Tim Walz

“Two children are dead. No political point is worth more than their lives.”

Online Reactions

Far-right figures have seized on Westman’s transgender identity, framing the attack as politically motivated — particularly due to the “kill Trump” reference. LGBTQ+ advocates and mental health experts caution against simplification: this was a convergence of delusion, instability, and radicalization.

The Larger Picture: Why These Details Matter

Robin Westman wasn’t a random shooter. She chose a place tied to her past, one where she had deep familial and emotional roots. The yearbook entries, her proximity to the church, and the writings she left behind all suggest years of buildup, not a spontaneous act.

Understanding her life story isn’t an excuse — it’s a warning. Systems missed signs. Patterns went unnoticed. And in the end, two children paid the ultimate price.

FAQs: What People Are Asking About Robin Westman

Where exactly did Robin Westman live?

She lived in Richfield, Minnesota, approximately one mile from Annunciation Catholic School. The family home is now part of an active FBI investigation.

Did Robin Westman attend the school she attacked?

Yes. She graduated from Annunciation Catholic School in 2017 and later wrote about it in yearbooks and journals.

What does her yearbook reveal?

Quotes, poetry, and reflections suggest a young person seeking identity and struggling with existential questions about legacy, purpose, and self-worth.

Was her motive political?

Unclear. While she left behind politically charged language — including “kill Trump” — investigators say her motives also appear deeply personal and rooted in mental illness.

What has the FBI said?

The attack is being treated as domestic terrorism and possibly an anti-Catholic hate crime.

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