Transgender mass shooter Robin Westman expressed frustration with her identity, stating she was ‘tired of being trans’ and felt she had ‘brainwashed herself’ in a disturbing manifesto prior to a tragic shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, resulting in the deaths of two children.
Court records seen by the Daily Mail reveal Westman, 23, was previously known as Robert, before changing her name in 2019.
According to court papers filed in Dakota County, Minnesota, Westman said she now ‘identified as a woman’.
But in a handwritten manifesto shared by the shooter in a YouTube video before opening fire, Westman appeared to question her decision.
In a cryptic message, Westman wrote, ‘I only keep [the long hair] because it’s basically my last connection to being trans. I’m tired of it; I wish I never brainwashed myself.’
‘I can’t cut my hair now as it would be an embarrassing defeat, and it might be a concerning change of character that could get me reported.
‘It just always gets in my way. I will probably chop it on the day of the attack.’
Westman also discussed her difficulties with gender identity, writing, ‘I don’t want to always dress in a feminine way, yet sometimes I really enjoy it. I know I’m not a woman, but I definitely don’t feel like a man either.’
The transgender mass shooter expressed her unease with her trans identity, lamenting about ‘brainwashing herself’ in a worrying manifesto before committing the tragic act at a Minneapolis Catholic church.
After the shooting on Wednesday, Westman’s disturbing manifesto and a farewell letter were found, shedding light on her mindset leading up to the tragic event.
On Wednesday morning around 8:30 a.m., the disturbed individual turned the gun on herself after opening fire at the Annunciation Catholic School and Church located in south Minneapolis.
Two young children, aged 8 and 10, were killed in the shooting while 17 other victims were wounded.
The injured victims – 14 children and three elderly church parishioners – are all expected to survive.
Haunting 911 audio captured the unfolding horror Wednesday morning as first responders rushed to the scene.
Emergency dispatch audio revealed the moment medical teams urged their colleagues to ‘bring all the gauze you have’ to treat the victims.
‘Minneapolis has a possible active shooter,’ one of the first responders said, and another said there were ‘two DOAs inside the church’ – meaning two would be ‘dead on arrival’.
‘We have… two patients with gunshot wounds to their heads in front. There’s also a critical patient in the rear of the church,’ another responder said over the radio.
Soon after the shooting began, Westman died by suicide, and a dispatcher could be heard relaying: ‘We have one suspect with a gunshot wound to the head – has a rifle and shotgun – he’s down right now.’
Westman shared a manifesto (pictured) in a video posted on a since-deleted YouTube account, including an apparent layout of the church
The killer used three guns to open fire on children as they prayed at Annunciation Catholic School – the institution Westman (pictured) graduated from eighth grade in 2017, and where the shooter’s mother worked as a parish secretary
Police are now investigating the killer’s motive for the shooting, including probing the disturbing videos posted on her since-deleted YouTube account.
In one 20-minute-long video, Westman showed off a kill kit of ammunition, magazines and firearms, while revealing a twisted obsession with school shooters, along with a dislike of President Donald Trump, and mockery of the church.
Westman also showed the camera pages of handwritten notes in a final letter to her family and friends.
In the letter, Westman claimed to have cancer caused by a vaping habit.
‘I think I am dying of cancer. It’s a tragic end as it’s entirely self inflicted. I did this to myself as I cannot control myself and have been destroying my body through vaping and other means,’ the shooter wrote.
Westman went on to write that she wanted ‘to go out on my own means’.
Court records seen by the Daily Mail reveal Westman had previously been known as Robert, before petitioning to change gender
It comes as haunting 911 audio revealed the moment first responders urged their colleagues to ‘bring all the gauze you have’ as they raced to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in South Minneapolis around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday
Emergency responders warned there were at least ‘two DOAs inside the church’ – meaning two would be ‘dead on arrival’ – after the shooting at the school
‘Unfortunately, due to my depression, anger and twisted mind, I want to fulfill a final act that has been in the back of my head for years,’ Westman wrote.
The note was signed with the name ‘Robin M Westman, 2002-2025’ and what appeared to be a bird drawing.
As well as the warped letter, the video also showed a stash of gun magazines, with white writing scrawled on them.
Several school shooters’ names including ‘Lanza’ for Sandy Hook mass shooter Adam Lanza was seen on some of the cartridges.
One of the other cartridges was labeled: ‘For the children.’
