Minneapolis shooter Robin Westman had a breakup with 'romantic partner' before Catholic school attack

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: New and disturbing details are surfacing about Robin Westman, the 23-year-old gunman behind the tragic August 27 shooting at a Minneapolis church and school that left two children dead and 18 others injured.

Recent reports reveal that Westman had a history of mental health struggles, including a call to their home during their teenage years related to a mental health concern.

These revelations follow the discovery of a series of disturbing YouTube videos and a manifesto posted online, in which Westman expressed deep personal turmoil.

Minneapolis shooter Robin Westman was driving a van registered to their father

According to a search warrant, the Minneapolis school shooter, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had been driving a van registered to their father.

Authorities found the shooter’s body behind the church, dressed in black tactical gear. At least two firearms, believed to be long guns, were recovered beside the body.

A subsequent search of the father’s home uncovered a Condor tactical vest with various attachments “not related to law enforcement or security,” as well as two external media storage devices and several documents.

In interviews with police, the shooter’s father revealed that his child had recently gone through a breakup "with a significant and/or romantic partner" and had been staying at a friend’s home. He also said that the shooter once attended Annunciation School and that the shooter’s mother, his former spouse, had previously worked there.

Police records further show that in 2018, officers were called to the shooter’s mother’s residence in Eagan for a welfare check involving a juvenile. That call was classified as a “medical mental health” incident. The exact nature of a prior police call remains unclear. 

Robin Westman referenced a romantic partner in their manifesto

Details are emerging about shooter Robin Westman’s past relationships, as referenced in the manifesto left behind. While authorities have not confirmed the identity of the romantic partner Westman had recently broken up with, the writings mention someone named "Aby," with the name written in Cyrillic.

Westman appeared bitter about the relationship, writing, “Aby is such a baby. I should have never started dating them.” The slain shooter also complained that Aby had a birthday coming up and that they didn’t want to buy a gift. Westman further expressed disgust toward s*x, noting that while their partner desired intimacy, they personally hated it.

At a press conference, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara revealed that just hours before the deadly attack, Westman had uploaded a series of disturbing videos and journal entries. In those writings, Westman fantasized about becoming a "scary, horrible monster" standing over "powerless children," and even expressed admiration for the perpetrators of the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre.

In a final unhinged message to family and friends, Westman portrayed themself as a person raised with empathy, self-sacrifice, and moral character. Yet, in the same breath, the shooter declared their intention to slaughter innocent children while bizarrely asking for prayers for their victims.