Annunciation Church Shooter’s Past: Former Teacher Recalls Self-Harm Signs Years Before Tragedy
Annunciation Church Shooter’s Past: Former Teacher Recalls Self-Harm Signs Years Before Tragedy
New details have emerged in the devastating Annunciation Catholic Church shooting, with a former art teacher of Robin Westman, the perpetrator, revealing she observed signs of self-harm on Westman in 2017. Sarah Reely, who taught Westman at an all-boys prep school in Minnesota, stated she reported her concerns at the time.
Westman, 23, carried out the attack during morning Mass on Wednesday, killing two children and injuring 18 worshippers in Minneapolis before dying from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities found Westman dressed in tactical gear with multiple firearms at the scene.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Reely recounted recognizing Westman from a photo, describing her former student as “a kid who needed help.” While noting Westman was “odd” and interested in “furries and odd artwork,” Reely emphasized that Westman was not violent towards others to her knowledge. Reely also highlighted Westman’s challenges fitting into the conservative school environment as a “queer kid” and her own efforts to build a relationship.
Reely clarified her post was not intended to generate sympathy for Westman or assign blame, but rather to underscore systemic failures and the complex factors contributing to such violence. Reely declined to speak directly with NBC News.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated Thursday that authorities had no prior information indicating Westman suffered from mental illness, despite a heavily redacted 2018 police report noting mental health as the reason for a police call to Westman’s residence. The chief also revealed Westman’s “fascination” with mass shootings, with acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson adding Westman “wanted to watch children suffer.”
The incident has reignited discussions surrounding Minnesota’s red flag law, which took effect in January 2024, allowing petitions to remove firearms from individuals deemed a threat. However, it appears no such alarms were raised despite Westman amassing a significant arsenal used in the attack. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to piece together the full scope of the tragedy and its antecedents.
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