A tragic shooting occurred at a Catholic school in Minneapolis on Wednesday, leaving two young children dead and several others injured. The gunman, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, carried out the attack during a school mass, targeting students aged 8 and 10. Westman later took his own life.
Before the attack, Westman, who had previously identified as Robert, expressed violent and hateful views in various writings. In journal entries, he made antisemitic remarks, stating that if he were to commit a racially motivated attack, it would likely be against "filthy Zionist Jews." He also used derogatory slurs and wrote disturbing messages on his firearm and magazines, including phrases like “6 million wasn’t enough” and “Israel must fall.”
The FBI is treating this incident as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime, focusing on its ideological motivations. FBI Director Kash Patel explained that the investigation is looking into the attack as a violent act driven by bias against a specific group, in this case, Catholics.
Westman’s connection to the school runs deeper, as his mother reportedly worked there. It’s unclear what her role was, but she had celebrated five years of service with the church in 2021.
This horrifying event has raised concerns about safety in schools and the rise of hate-driven violence. The community is mourning the loss of the innocent lives taken in this senseless act.