Minneapolis mayor condemns ‘hate’ being directed against trans community following school shooting

The mayor of Minneapolis has urged ‘humanity’ after two children were killed and 17 people injured in a shooting by a gunman, since identified as a possibly trans individual named Robin Westman, opened fire on a Catholic school.

Robin Westman, 23, opened fire on schoolchildren attending Mass at Annunciation Church and Catholic school on Wednesday (27 August), in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Two children, aged eight and ten, were killed, and 17 others injured. Local police chief Brian O’Hara has said that all those injured, including 14 children, are expected to survive.

According to the BBC, Westman had no prior criminal history, and used three legally obtained guns – a rifle, shotgun and pistol – in the attack. Westman reportedly shot through church windows, and then died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

FBI Director Kash Patel identified Westman as “male born” in a post on X. Court records reviewed by publications such as the Guardian and the Telegraph reportedly say that Robin Westman applied to change their name from Robert to Robin by deed poll in 2019, as Westman “identifies as female and wants her name to reflect that identification.”

Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey has urged “humanity” in the wake of the shooting.

“This kind of evil should never happen,” he said

According to NBC News, Frey stressed at a second news conference, “I have heard about a whole lot of hate that’s being directed at our trans community.

“Anybody who is using this … as an opportunity to villainise our trans community, or any other community out there, has lost their sense of common humanity.”

The FBI is investigating the shooting “as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics”, Patel confirmed, though local police say they are still investigating a possible motive.

“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping,” O’Hara said during a news conference. “The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.” 

Online posts linked to Robin Westman show an apparent obsession with mass killers, neo-Nazi ethos and alleged attack plans, the Independent said.

Frey, who has led Minneapolis since 2018, said at a news briefing: “Children are dead. There are families that have a deceased child … Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, “I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI quickly responded, and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!”

White House flags were lowered to half mast.