Tragic Incident in Minneapolis Involves Shooter’s Manifesto

Robin Westman, a shooter identifying as transgender, expressed frustration with his identity in a manifesto and feared he might “brainwash” himself.

Westman fatally shot multiple individuals at Announcement Catholic Church in Minneapolis on Wednesday, following the release of a disturbing manifesto on YouTube. In his writings, he stated that keeping his long hair was crucial, claiming that cutting it would symbolize an “embarrassing defeat,” according to translations reported by a news outlet.

He mentioned, “I just keep [the long hair] because it is my last snippet of being transgender. I can’t cut my hair because it’s an embarrassing defeat. It could signify a change in identity.” He hinted that he might cut it on the day of the attack.

In 2019, Westman changed his name from Roger to Robin with the support of a woman named Mary. The name change petition, approved in January 2020, indicated that Westman wanted to affirm his identity.

In other translated quotes, Westman articulated regret about being transgender, stating, “I wish I was a girl who knew I couldn’t achieve that body given my current skills. I don’t have the financial means for that.” He also expressed dissatisfaction with his appearance, saying, “I like sexy and cute feelings, but my face never matches my feelings. I hate my face… perhaps that’s why I like it.”

Westman reflected in his diary that he didn’t want to wear feminine clothing all the time, recognizing that he didn’t truly identify as a woman. He also recalled the Sandy Hook school shooting, describing nightmarish fantasies of a “horrifying, terrifying monster standing above helpless children” ahead of the tragic event in Minneapolis.

In the hours leading up to the shooting, Westman uploaded a video to YouTube featuring ammunition and firearms, alongside threatening remarks, including a call to harm former President Trump.

Interestingly, Westman’s mother worked at Announcement Catholic School for five years before departing in 2021.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed the shooting in a press conference, emphasizing the importance of not harming the transgender community in the aftermath.

Curiously, many media outlets have shown reluctance to acknowledge Westman’s transgender identity, with some, including notable news organizations, using female pronouns when discussing the incident.