Hours before the attack, Westman uploaded videos to a now-deleted YouTube account under the name "Robin W." These videos, which have been removed but were analyzed by investigators and media outlets, showed Westman displaying their arsenal and thumbing through a handwritten journal (manifesto) filled with ramblings in English and Cyrillic script (Russian alphabet).
The journal, translated by outlets like the New York Post, contained over 1,000 words of disjointed, hateful entries, including drawings (e.g., a map of the church interior stabbed with a knife), suicidal thoughts, and obsessions with mass shootings. Westman expressed a desire to "please myself" through violence, stating they couldn't "just take myself out" without a "final act" that brought joy, particularly the "awful slaughter of innocents" like children.
Key excerpts from the journal and videos include:
- Antisemitic and anti-Zionist rants: "If I will carry out a racially motivated attack, it would be most likely against filthy Zionist jews." Westman also wrote, "I hate those entitled, penny-sniffing k***s" (using an antisemitic slur), "6 million wasn’t enough" (referencing the Holocaust), and "Free Palestine."
- Other hateful messages on weapons/ammunition: "Burn Israel," "Destroy HIAS" (a Jewish refugee aid organization often targeted in white supremacist conspiracies like the "Great Replacement" theory), "Jew gas" (on a smoke grenade), "Israel must fall, release the files" (possibly referencing Jeffrey Epstein documents), "Nuke India," and racist slurs against Black, Hispanic, and Muslim people.
- Anti-Christian and anti-Trump sentiments: "Where is your God?" (on a gun magazine), a shooting target with Jesus's image, and "Kill Donald Trump."
- References to mass killers: Westman expressed a "deep fascination" with Adam Lanza (Sandy Hook shooter, 2012), calling it their "favorite" school shooting. Other names inscribed included Robert Bowers (2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooter), Dylann Roof (2015 Charleston church shooter), Natalie Rupnow (2024 Abundant Life Christian School shooter), and Anders Breivik (2011 Norway attacks). One magazine listed six notorious mass shooters.
- Personal reflections: Westman wrote about gender identity struggles ("I know I am not a woman but I definitely don't feel like a man"), clothing for the attack ("I look pretty, smart and modest"), a self-diagnosed "cancer" from vaping, and suicidal ideation ("I can’t deal with this anymore… I have to go"). They also included a trans pride flag with an AK-47 and "defend equality," alongside phrases like "I’m a terrorist... b----" and "Mashallah" (an Arabic phrase, possibly ironic or mixed with pro-Palestinian sentiment).
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) confirmed the writings on the weapons included antisemitic and anti-Israel references, praising killers across ideologies (white supremacist, Islamophobic, anti-government). The manifesto also featured online memes (e.g., "Skibidi," referencing an extremist message board), political jabs (e.g., against companies like a multinational investment firm and an oil company), and admiration for pro-gun YouTuber Brandon Herrera (who condemned the attack).
Westman giggled and mumbled through the videos, sometimes interrupted by cursing or vaping, while displaying hundreds of rounds of ammunition strewn on a bed. One video was captioned "so long and thanks for all the fish" (a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference), and another included a note apologizing to family, signed "Robin M Westman, 2002-2025" with a bird drawing.
Their motives appear multifaceted and incoherent, blending personal anguish, obsession with mass violence, and extremist ideologies. The ADL noted the writings targeted multiple groups (Jews, Christians, LGBTQ+ individuals, etc.), suggesting influence from online hate communities. The choice of a Catholic school tied to their family history may indicate a personal grudge, but officials say the full motive is unclear. FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the anti-Catholic hate crime angle, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted messages like "For the Children" as particularly unthinkable.
Vigils drew hundreds to Lynnhurst Park and other sites. Three children remained hospitalized at Children's Minnesota (four discharged); two were in critical condition. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called it an "unspeakable act of evil" and urged against "villainizing our trans community," stressing shared humanity. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) decried gun violence, and the church's pastor expressed grief.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara called Westman a "coward." The investigation continues, with a vehicle search and focus on the manifesto for deeper insights.
