‘The shooter wanted to kill children’: Police still searching for motive in Annunciation attack

MINNEAPOLIS — Robin Westman brimmed with hatred.

In raving videos and coded manifestos, the 23-year-old unleashed torrents of rage toward Jews, Christians, Mexicans and Black people alike.

But authorities say Westman obsessed over punishing one group above all others.

“The shooter wanted to kill children — defenseless children,” said Joe Thompson, Minnesota’s acting U.S. attorney. “I won’t dignify the shooter’s words by repeating them. They are horrific and vile. But, in short, the shooter wanted to watch children suffer.”

The death and injury toll from Westman opening fire into a back-to-school mass in Minneapolis’ Annunciation Catholic School is now up to 20, said Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who provided an update on the investigation with Thompson and other state and federal law enfo