Attorneys for the family of a slain 10-year-old Minneapolis girl announced plans to sue YouTube and a video game studio over missed warning signs from the transgender gunman who killed her.
Bakari Sellers and Greg Francis, the lawyers representing Harper Moyski’s relatives, told KARE that Google-owned YouTube failed to act on a string of disturbing videos posted by Robin Westman, 23, in the hours before the August 2025 massacre at Annunciation Catholic School. The planned litigation will also name Facepunch Studios, developer of the sandbox game Garry’s Mod, where Westman allegedly discussed violence openly with other players.
“The family feels very strongly that more could’ve been done, more should’ve been done, with these videos that were posted, uploaded to YouTube,” Francis said.
“There are safety protocols that should’ve been in place.”
Westman, who was born Robert and legally changed his name to Robin at age 17 in January 2020, killed Moyski and Fletcher Merkel, 8, during a welcome mass for students. The shooter injured 27 others before dying by suicide. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara previously confirmed that Westman posted the videos — including a manifesto — hours before the attack.
The attorneys emphasized the toll on Moyski’s parents, Jackie Flavin and Michael Moyski, who described their daughter as “pure joy and hope.” Knowing that YouTube “could have saved her life but chose not to is more than any parent could bear,” the lawyers added.
In one 20-minute video posted before the shooting, Westman flipped through a handwritten manifesto written partly in a homespun code. The shooter expressed admiration for the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre and fantasized about “being that scary horrible monster standing over those powerless kids.”
“I am feeling good about Annunciation,” Westman wrote in one entry.
“It seems like a good combo of easy attack form and devastating tragedy and I want to do more research. I have concerns about finding a large enough group. I want to avoid any parents, but pre and post school drop off,” another page reads.
Near the end of the video, Westman reached what appeared to be a drawing of the church after flicking through blank pages. Other written entries contained antisemitic and racist views.
Court documents show Westman applied for the name change at 17, stating he “identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.” However, five years later, the shooter appeared to have regretted changing his sexual identity.
The August 2025 attack unfolded during a celebratory back-to-school Mass at the church connected to Annunciation School, where Westman had formerly attended as a student. The gunman opened fire through stained glass windows into a space filled with children.
Neither Google, which owns YouTube, nor Facepunch immediately responded to requests for comment on the planned lawsuit.
