New Delhi: A chilling tragedy unfolded at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday, where a gunman opened fire during a morning Mass, killing two children and injuring 17 others before taking his own life.
Identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, the shooter left behind a trail of hateful messages scrawled on his weapons, including “Kill Donald Trump,” “Nuke India,” and “Israel Must Fall.”
Hours before the attack, Westman posted disturbing videos on social media, showcasing his arsenal and extremist rhetoric, raising urgent questions about the motives behind this horrific act.
A Trail Of Hate
Westman’s weapons, including rifles and a shotgun, bore inscriptions targeting US President Donald Trump, Jews, and India, alongside references to notorious mass shooters like Adam Lanza, who killed 26 at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. The phrases, written in silver ink, included “For the Children,” “Where is Your God?” and antisemitic slurs like “6 Million Wasn’t Enough,” a nod to the Holocaust. These messages, combined with videos flaunting his firearms, point to a deeply troubled individual obsessed with violence and hate.
The Attack And Its Aftermath
The attack targeted children aged 6 to 15, with 14 among the wounded, all expected to survive. Three elderly parishioners, in their 80s, were also injured. Westman, who died by suicide at the scene, had a connection to the school — his mother worked there, and he was a former student. His pre-attack videos, now removed from YouTube but circulating online, showed him flipping through a journal with entries praising mass killers and expressing antisemitic and anti-India sentiments. One rifle bore “Mashallah,” a phrase that has sparked speculation about his ideological leanings, though no clear motive has emerged.
A Community In Mourning
This massacre has shaken Minneapolis and beyond, with police and the FBI probing it as a hate crime and act of domestic terrorism. The references to “Nuke India” and Trump have drawn global attention, amplifying concerns about rising extremist rhetoric. As one investigator noted, “This wasn’t random — it was planned, and the hate was personal.” With the community mourning, the focus now is on healing and uncovering why Westman turned his rage on innocent children.