The FBI is reportedly searching for the mother of Robin Westman.
On Wednesday (August 27), a gunman opened fire with a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis, targeting nearly 200 children attending Mass during their first week of school. This tragic incident resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to 17 others, an event described by the police chief as ‘absolutely incomprehensible’.
The victims have been identified as eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and ten-year-old Harper Moyski.
Robin Westman, a 23-year-old armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, approached the church and fired numerous rounds through the windows at the children seated in the pews during the Mass at Annunciation Catholic School, just before 8:30 am local time. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed at a news conference that the gunman subsequently took his own life.
Investigations suggest Westman, a former student of the school, was ‘obsessed’ with the notion of harming children, according to the authorities.
Chief O’Hara stated in an update: “It is very clear that this shooter had the intention to terrorize those innocent children.”
Westman’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, was once employed at the same school, serving as a ‘parish secretary’ before retiring in 2021. She was previously mentioned in a 2016 church bulletin as having been hired as an administrative assistant in the business office.
Mary has reportedly not been forthcoming in aiding the police’s investigation into her son’s actions and the shooting that occurred on Wednesday.
The Telegraph reports that Mary has ‘refused to cooperate’ with authorities, leading FBI agents to visit her Florida apartment on Wednesday.
She also owns a property in Minneapolis, which she appears to have left following the tragic event.
At a press conference on Thursday, Chief O’Hara mentioned the challenges faced in reaching out to the shooter’s mother. “There continue to be efforts made to get that done,” he noted.
Although Mary’s whereabouts are currently unknown, she has reportedly retained criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry.
When questioned by Fox News on Thursday about why Westman’s mother sought his legal services, Garry stated, “She is completely distraught about the situation and has no culpability but is seeking an attorney to deal with calls like this,” as reported by The Independent.
Attempts have been made to contact Garry for further comment.