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Minneapolis releases records on 2025 Catholic school shooting, detailing quick response but few new answers on motive
Newly released documents and photos detail law enforcement's response to the attack at Annunciation Church and School, though the shooter's precise motive remains unclear.
The short version
- City officials released hundreds of pages of records and nearly 1,500 photos detailing the police response to the Aug. 27, 2025, shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis.
- The attack by 23-year-old Robin Westman killed two children and wounded at least 21 other people before Westman died by suicide.
- First responders arrived within three and a half minutes of the initial call, according to dispatch records, encountering a chaotic scene inside and around the sanctuary.
- Transcripts of police interviews with Westman's family and acquaintances describe a history of depression and suicidal ideation, but no clear indicators of capability for mass violence.
Key facts
- The Aug. 27, 2025, attack at Annunciation Church and School killed 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski and injured at least 21 others.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Dispatch logs show the first officers arrived on the scene approximately three and a half minutes after the initial shooting report.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Gunman Robin Westman was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was armed with a rifle, shotgun, pistol, knives, smoke bombs, and additional ammunition.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Dashcam video from Westman's vehicle showed Westman appearing agitated after visiting family and driving past the church and school the night before the attack.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Interviews with Westman's father, ex-girlfriend, and former co-workers characterized Westman as prone to depression, but stated they did not anticipate mass violence.[ABC News · Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- The explicit rationale for targeting Annunciation Church and School remains unresolved, as Westman left behind contradictory writings attacking various races and religions.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- City officials indicated that additional police documents and videos may be disclosed in subsequent weeks.[ABC News · Associated Press]