Robin Westman identified as alleged killer, police confirm most victims are children as shooter found dead at scene

Minneapolis church shooter had an official name change

Fox News correspondent CB Cotton has the latest on the tragedy that killed two children and injured 17 on ‘The Five.’

Police responded to a mass shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday, where they said two children were killed and 17 people injured.

The suspected shooter of a group of Minneapolis Catholic school students at morning Mass Wednesday has been identified as Robert or Robin Westman, according to law enforcement sources.

He was carrying three firearms, according to authorities – a rifle, a pistol and a shotgun.

Court records show that a Minneapolis juvenile named Robert Westman had their name legally changed to Robin in 2019, and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the shooter was born Robert and later identified as Robin.

An undated driver’s license photo shows Robin M. Westman, 23, identified by police as the gunman who opened fire during a Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. Westman’s identity in the photo was confirmed by two Fox News sources. (Obtained by Fox News)

Robin M. Westman was previously known as Robert Paul Westman, according to a court document filed by a mother named Mary Grace Westman.

“Minor child [redacted] identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification,” she wrote at the time.

Screenshots from a YouTube video posted by Robin M. Westman, 23, show the suspect police identified as the gunman in the Aug. 27, 2025, Minneapolis church school shooting. (Obtained by Fox News)

MINNESOTA SCHOOL SHOOTING GUNMAN KILLS 2 CHILDREN, INJURES 17 OTHERS DURING CATHOLIC MASS

An officer hugs a victim following reports of a shooting that targeted a Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Aug. 27, 2025.  (KMSP)

The name Mary Grace Westman also appeared on the school’s Facebook feed in 2021 – identified as the parish secretary ahead of her retirement party.

She could not immediately be reached for comment.

Disturbing videos posted by a person using the name Robin Westman were deleted from YouTube after the shooting, showing handwritten pages of a notebook, weapons with messages painted on them, and commentary from whoever filmed them.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that police were “aware of a manifesto the shooter had timed to be released on YouTube.”

“[It] appeared to show him at the scene and included some disturbing writing,” the chief said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sits on steps of the Annunciation Church’s school as police response to a reported mass shooting, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Abbie Parr/AP Photo)

He added that all three firearms used in the attack had been purchased legally by Westman, who had no prior criminal record.

Police were serving four search warrants – one at the crime scene and three more at residences in the Minneapolis metro area. Police seized additional guns from those residential locations, he said.

The attack took place at Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday morning, but police have not identified any of the victims. They said two children were killed. Authorities said the shooter committed suicide after the act.

Community members embrace after a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis.  (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)

Ten victims were taken to Hennepen Healthcare, which said it had received one adult and six children in critical condition and another adult and two more children with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Three children were still receiving care at Children’s Minnesota while four other patients were discharged, the hospital told Fox News Digital.

“Our thoughts are with all the victims, their families and loved ones in our communities who are impacted by yet another senseless act of violence,” the hospital said in a statement. “We will not share more details to respect the privacy of our patients and families.”

Police said the attacker was a male dressed in black and carrying a black rifle.

The suspect’s relationship to the school is also unknown, and it has not been confirmed whether the suspect had any connection to any students or staff.

The Children’s Minnesota Hospital said six children are being treated after the shooting. The hospital would not share details about the patients out of respect for them and their loved ones.

An officer with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office after a shooting at Annunciation Church, which is also home to an elementary school, in Minneapolis, Aug. 27, 2025.   (Ben Brewer/Reuters)

Police said 17 people were injured, including 14 children. Two of the 17 people injured are in critical condition.

President Donald Trump and other federal and state leaders have already remarked on the shooting. Trump confirmed that the FBI has launched an investigation, which FBI Director Patel later said would investigate the shooting as both a hate crime and terrorism.

“The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics,” he announced in an X post.

Video

Patel said two children died. They were 8 and 10 years old.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Minneapolis Police Department shared a message from the city of Minneapolis confirming “there is no active threat to the community at this time,” and “the shooter is contained.”

Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Stephen Sorace, Kyle Schmidbauer and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to [email protected], or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.