Robin M. Westman of Richfield, Minnesota, United States was born biologically male. He identified as a female when he was 17 but when he turned 22, he wrote, “I don’t want to dress girly all the time but I guess sometimes I really like it. I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man.”
Robin Westman
Westman was born Robert Paul Westman. He is one of the children of James Westman of Richfield, Minnesota and Mary Grace Westman, 67, of Naples, Florida, USA.
Aside from Minneapolis, Mary Grace has lived in other parts of Minnesota including Duluth, Eagan and Hastings. She is a former resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Lexington, Kentucky, USA and Crested Butte, Colorado, USA.
On March 25, 2005, Mary Grace carried crucifixes during an anti-abortion protest outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Saint Paul, Minnesota. From 2016 to 2021, she worked at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis as a parish secretary.
In 2019, Mary Grace signed Robert’s petition to change his name to Robin M. Westman. On January 15, 2020, it was legally granted.
On August 16, 2021, the Church of the Annunciation took to social media to pay tribute to Mary Grace before her retirement. On June 17, 2025, Robin turned 23.
Annunciation Catholic School
According to authorities, Robin does not have an extensive criminal history. Just before 8:30 a.m. on August 27, 2025, he opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis while children attending the school were praying at mass inside the school’s church to celebrate the start of classes.
Wearing black cargo-style pants, Robin approached the side of the church and put a wooden plank against some of the church’s side doors. Through the windows, he shot the people inside the church using a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, which he legally purchased.
After opening fire, Robin died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two Annunciation Catholic School students, aged 10 and 8, were fatally shot.
A total of 17 people were injured. Fourteen of them are children.
Most of the victims were rushed to Children’s Minnesota and Hennepin Healthcare, which are both in Minneapolis. One was taken to M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.
CONAN Daily 