The mother of a shooter who targeted a Minneapolis Catholic school during a morning Mass on Wednesday has retained a criminal defense lawyer, as authorities say they haven’t been able to contact her.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara indicated that while Robin Westman’s family is cooperating with the investigation, they have yet to find her mother, Mary Grace Westman, who is believed to reside in Florida according to records.
He said investigators have done dozens of interviews with the shooter’s family, friends and associates, and have talked to the shooter’s father.
“I know we have not been successful in talking to the shooter’s mother yet at this time,” O’Hara said at a news conference Thursday.
Mary Grace Westman’s lawyer, Ryan Garry, mentioned to NBC News on Thursday that he had no comments at this moment. The FBI and local police did not provide immediate responses to requests for comments on Friday.
Investigators often aim to talk with the families of mass shooters to determine motives. In a notable incident following the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, shooter Ethan Crumbley’s parents faced charges and were convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced in April 2024 to 10 to 15 years in prison. Their son pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.
Authorities have not disclosed whether Mary Grace Westman or other family members might face any charges. O’Hara informed reporters on Thursday that efforts to contact the shooter’s mother will persist.
The shooting spree began just before 8:30 a.m. local time at Annunciation Catholic School, after reports indicate the 23-year-old fired through the church’s windows. The motive is still unknown.
Two children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, were killed. Fifteen other children, ages 6 to 15, were injured, as well as three adult parishioners in their 80s.
As of Thursday morning, two of the victims remained in critical condition, a hospital official said.
The shooter used three different firearms to carry out the attack, according to a news release on Thursday. Police said that 116 rifle casings, three shotgun shell casings and one live pistol round were recovered at the scene.
Video surveillance appears to confirm that the shooter did not enter the church.
“The practice of locking the doors once Mass began likely prevented a worse incident,” a police news release said. “At the same time, the suspect attempted to barricade a door from the outside, preventing exit from the church.”
The shooter, who was a trans woman, died by suicide after the shooting. Authorities said the shooter had been a student at Annunciation Catholic School, and her mother had once worked there.
Four search warrants have been executed at the church as well as locations in South Minneapolis, Richfield, and St. Louis Park, police said. Investigators have gathered hundreds of pieces of evidence, including electronics and writings, police said.
