On August 29, 2025, chilling new details emerged about the Minneapolis school shooter, Robin Westman, revealing a recent breakup as a key trigger for the brutal attack on Annunciation Catholic School that killed two children and injured 18. The 23-year-old, who died by self-inflicted gunshot, fired through church windows during a morning Mass, leaving the nation reeling. The revelation, confirmed by police records, has sparked outrage on X, with fans demanding answers about the tragedy’s roots.
Westman, recently separated from a romantic partner, was living with a friend in St. Louis Park after leaving their Richfield apartment, per police statements. The breakup, described as “significant” by Westman’s father, compounded their isolation and obsession with past mass shooters, fueling a “deranged” hatred, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. The shooter’s manifesto, posted on YouTube before the attack, expressed “indiscriminate hate” and a desire to target children, chillingly fantasizing about “being a monster.”
The attack, which killed 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, used legally purchased firearms, including a rifle and shotgun, with 116 rounds fired. Westman’s mother, a former church employee, and their own attendance at the school added a personal layer to the tragedy. X users, like @JusticeNow22, tweeted, “A breakup doesn’t justify this evil!” while @MinnFan88 posted, “Heartbreaking—those kids deserved better.”
Police found no prior criminal history or mental health commitments, but writings revealed a planned attack driven by “pure hate” toward multiple groups, including religious and ethnic communities. The FBI’s investigation, labeling it a hate crime, continues to probe the breakup’s role, with some speculating it exacerbated Westman’s descent into violence. Critics on X, like @CrimeSkeptic, question if more could have been done to spot warning signs.
As Minneapolis mourns, the shooter’s breakup-driven rage underscores a chilling motive. The community, rallying with vigils, demands justice, while Westman’s actions leave a scar on Annunciation and beyond, fueling a national call for answers.
