Crime
Authorities Seek to Question Mary Grace Westman, Mother of Minneapolis Church School Mass Shooter Robin Westman
MINNEAPOLIS — Investigators are seeking to question the mother of the Annunciation Catholic School mass shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, following Wednesday’s devastating attack inside the Minneapolis church school.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, is wanted for questioning in connection with the case.
Law enforcement officials believe she may be staying at her condominium in Naples, Florida.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said that investigators have so far “not been successful in speaking with the shooter’s mother.”
According to police, surveillance footage from the school captured portions of the shooting.
Chief O’Hara revealed that Westman fired 116 rounds from a rifle during the attack, which unfolded during a back-to-school Mass inside the church.
Law enforcement sources told investigators that Westman is a former student of the school, and his mother previously worked there in a staff role before retiring.
Court records show that in 2019, when Westman was still a minor, Mary Grace Westman filed a petition in Dakota County to change her child’s name from Robert Paul Westman to Robin M. Westman.
The petition stated that Robin “identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.”
The shooting left two children, ages 8 and 10, dead and 17 others injured, including 14 children between the ages of 6 and 15 and three elderly parishioners in their 80s. Police said all surviving victims are expected to recover.
One of the first identified survivors is 13-year-old Endre Gunter, who was struck in the stomach during the barrage of gunfire.
His mother, Danielle, confirmed that he underwent emergency surgery and is now recovering.
“Our son was shot at school today, inside a church praying with his classmates,” Danielle said in a statement. She also thanked a Minneapolis police officer who rendered aid, hugged and reassured her son, and prayed with him before he was rushed into an ambulance.
The Gunter family said they are now focused on helping Endre “rebuild his life, his trust, and his confidence” in the aftermath of the attack.
The suspected gunman, Robin Westman, was later found dead inside the church from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing the violent rampage to an end.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities reviewing surveillance footage, gathering witness statements, and continuing their efforts to speak with the suspect’s mother.
Crime
Victims Identified in Deadly Robeson County Mass Shooting
Two Dead, 13 Injured in Mass Shooting at Large Party in Robeson County, North Carolina
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — A late-night party in eastern North Carolina turned deadly early Saturday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins confirmed that deputies were called to the scene on Dixon Drive, just outside the town of Maxton, at approximately 3:00 a.m. following reports of a shooting at a large outdoor gathering attended by more than 150 people.
When deputies arrived, chaos had already unfolded — witnesses said over 150 individuals fled the area before law enforcement could secure the scene.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Jessie Locklear and his son Nehemiah Locklear.
Several other victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to area hospitals for emergency treatment.
Sheriff Wilkins stated that, based on preliminary findings, the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the wider community.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies, continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the violence.
Detectives are working to determine the motive and identify all parties involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—or anyone who attended the gathering and witnessed the incident—to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Investigators at 910-671-3100.
“We know there were many people present when this occurred,” Sheriff Wilkins said. “If you saw something or know something, we need you to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their families.”