Authorities in Minneapolis say the gunman responsible for a deadly school shooting was “obsessed with the idea of killing children,” shedding light on the disturbing mindset behind the tragedy that left two young pupils dead and 18 others injured. The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire on students as they prayed inside Annunciation Church, which also houses a school. Police said Westman, who later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had no clear motive but harbored hatred toward multiple groups and sought notoriety.
The victims were named as eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski. Their grieving families paid emotional tributes, with Fletcher’s father describing his son as a boy who loved fishing, cooking, and sports, while Harper’s parents remembered her as a “bright, joyful” child whose laughter touched everyone around her. “As a family, we are shattered,” they said in a statement, urging that Harper’s memory drive action against gun violence.
Investigators revealed that Westman, who previously attended the church school and whose mother once worked there, approached the building with three firearms and fired dozens of rounds through its windows. A smoke bomb was also recovered at the scene. Witnesses recounted seeing terrified children bleeding as they fled for safety. Acting U.S. Attorney General for Minnesota Joseph Thompson confirmed that the attacker left behind a hate-filled note and writings targeting Jewish people, Catholics, and even former President Donald Trump.
Federal officials have classified the massacre as an act of domestic terrorism motivated by extremist ideology. FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators found anti-religious and antisemitic messages scrawled on firearms and magazines, including calls for violence and references to global conflicts. Authorities also warned that Westman had shown a disturbing fascination with previous mass shootings, raising fears of copycat attacks — a phenomenon long recognized by U.S. security agencies.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara urged the public and media to avoid amplifying the shooter’s name, stressing that the attack appeared driven by a desire for fame as much as by hate. With the community mourning the loss of two children, questions are mounting over how such violence continues to devastate schools, and whether stronger measures can be taken to prevent tragedies that officials described as both “horrific and avoidable.”
