Minneapolis shooter talked of depression and left behind a list of grievances

RICHFIELD, Minn. (AP):

The shooter who killed two Catholic school students and wounded more than a dozen children sitting in the pews of a Minneapolis church once attended the same school and had been a member of the church, the city’s police chief said.

Authorities were poring over videos, writings and the movements of the shooter but remained uncertain what motivated 23-year-old Robin Westman to open fire through stained-glass windows as children celebrated Mass on the first week of classes at the Annunciation Catholic School.

“Everything we’ve seen so far is a classic pathway to an active shooter,” Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said on NBC’s “TODAY” show Thursday, adding police have seen nothing “specific to trigger the amount of hate that occurred yesterday.”

Investigators recovered hundreds of pieces of evidence from the church and three residences, and are seeking warrants to search devices, the chief said. They found more writings from the suspect, but no additional firearms.

Westman, who was armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, died by suicide, he said.

Two children, ages 8 and 10, died in the shooting. City officials on Thursday increased to 15 the number of wounded children – ages 6 to 15 – in addition to three parishioners in their 80s who were also injured. Most were expected to survive, O’Hara said.

One child was in critical condition Thursday while 11 other victims remained in hospitals.

Westman, whose mother worked for the parish before retiring in 2021, left behind videos and page upon page of writings describing a litany of grievances. One read: “I know this is wrong, but I can’t seem to stop myself.”

On a YouTube channel, videos that police say may have been posted by the shooter show weapons and ammunition, and list the names of mass shooters. What appears to be a suicide note to family contains a confession of long-held plans to carry out a shooting and talk of being deeply depressed.

Rev. Dennis Zehren, who was inside the church with the nearly 200 children, said the responsorial psalm – which spoke of light in the darkness – had almost ended when he heard someone yell, “Down down, everybody down,” and gunshots rang out.

Fifth-grader Weston Halsne said he ducked for the pews, covering his head, shielded by a friend who was on top of him. His friend was hit, he said.

“I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s OK,” the 10-year-old said.