A horrifying tragedy struck a Minneapolis church, leaving a community in mourning. On Wednesday, a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church turned deadly when 23-year-old trans woman Robin Westman opened fire. The attack shattered the sanctity of a sacred space.
The New York Post reported that Westman, a former student at Annunciation Catholic School, killed two children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, and injured 18 others, including 15 children and three elderly parishioners.
Bullets tore through the church’s stained glass windows, targeting the innocent during a moment of prayer. The shooter died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, ending the rampage.
The motives behind this heinous act are chillingly clear from Westman’s own words scrawled on gun magazines: “kill Donald Trump” and “for the children.”
These phrases suggest a twisted ideology, possibly fueled by the radical rhetoric that’s become all too common in certain online echo chambers. Yet, the targeting of children in a church reveals a deeper, more disturbing intent.
Westman’s familiarity with Annunciation Catholic School, where the shooter once studied, likely aided the attack’s precision.
Investigators suspect Westman chose the church deliberately, perhaps due to a personal connection through their mother, Mary Grace Westman, who worked there until retiring in 2021. This calculated choice underscores the tragedy’s personal sting for the school community.
In online videos, Westman expressed regret over being “brainwashed” into transitioning and planned to cut their hair before the attack. Such statements hint at inner turmoil, but they don’t excuse the decision to target children in a house of worship.
The shooter’s manifesto, shared in handwritten videos, may offer more clues, though its contents remain under scrutiny. The attack left nine victims still hospitalized as of Friday, some clinging to life in critical condition.
The community, reeling from the loss, held a candlelight vigil that evening to honor the victims and pray for healing. Minneapolis grieves, but the progressive push to downplay such violence as mere mental health crises risks ignoring the ideological rot at play.
Federal agents descended on Mary Grace Westman’s East Naples, Florida, apartment on August 27, 2025, seeking answers. Mary Grace, who signed off on her child’s legal name change from Robert to Robin in 2020, refused to open the door for the FBI. Her silence speaks volumes, suggesting either fear or something more troubling.
“We have not been successful in talking to the shooter’s mother,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during an August 28 press conference. He emphasized ongoing efforts to reach her, but Mary Grace’s refusal to cooperate only deepens the mystery. Is she protecting herself or shielding something else?
Mary Grace has since hired criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry, a lawyer with a history of representing high-profile clients like Colin Kaepernick in a lawsuit for George Floyd protesters.
Garry’s involvement raises eyebrows, as his track record suggests a knack for navigating politically charged cases. His claim that Mary Grace is “completely distraught” and has “no culpability” feels like a preemptive defense, but it dodges the question of her role, if any.
“She is completely distraught about the situation and has no culpability,” Garry told Fox News. His assertion might comfort some, but it’s hard to swallow when the shooter’s mother worked at the targeted school and approved a name change years earlier. The public deserves clarity, not lawyerly deflections.
Police executed four search warrants on August 27, 2025, collecting hundreds of pieces of evidence, including electronic devices.
These items may reveal whether Westman’s attack was spurred by personal grievances or broader ideological influences. The phrase “kill Donald Trump” on the gun magazines suggests a political undercurrent that can’t be ignored, no matter how much some might try.
Westman’s stated goal of watching children suffer is a gut-punch to any parent or decent person. The shooter’s familiarity with the church’s layout, gained as a former student, made the attack devastatingly effective. This wasn’t random; it was a planned assault on innocence.
The timing of the shooting, just two days into the school year, adds to the heartbreak for Annunciation Catholic School families.
The back-to-school Mass, meant to bless the new academic year, became a scene of unimaginable horror. Progressive policies that prioritize ideological agendas over community safety must face scrutiny in the aftermath.
Investigators are probing whether Mary Grace’s tenure at the school influenced her child’s target choice. Her refusal to cooperate only fuels speculation, and the hiring of a high-profile attorney like Garry suggests she’s bracing for a storm. The truth, whatever it is, must come out to prevent future tragedies.
