One year after a deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church and school, newly released documents offer a detailed account of the swift response by law enforcement but provide limited insight into the motive behind the attack. The records, totaling nearly 1,500 photos and hundreds of pages, detail witness interviews, evidence collected, and accounts from officers who arrived within minutes of the Aug. 27, 2025, incident.
Robin Westman, 23, killed 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski and wounded at least 21 other children and adults before dying by suicide. Documents released this week by city officials show dozens of officers from multiple agencies arrived quickly, with the first responders reaching the scene about three and a half minutes after the first report of a possible shooting. By that time, Westman, armed with multiple firearms and knives, was already deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The documents describe a large crime scene with bullet damage to the church, playground, and surrounding neighborhood. First officers inside the sanctuary reported a chaotic scene with victims, significant blood loss, and the smell of gunpowder. Officers provided immediate medical aid, including applying a tourniquet to a woman in the parking lot who suffered a severe leg wound, an action that medical staff later said likely saved her life.
Survivors recounted hearing shots from outside and seeing windows shatter during Mass. Many children reported hiding under pews or following adults to other areas. Preschool teachers described barricading classrooms and attempting to keep young students calm and sheltered.
The records also detail the arrival of concerned parents searching for loved ones at the school and church. Some recounted hiding with their children in basements.
While the newly released records are largely a compilation of previously reported information, they include some new details about Westman's actions prior to the shooting. Investigators had previously described Westman as being "full of hatred" and expressing admiration for past mass shooters, with their names written on weapons and ammunition. However, the specific target and decisions made by Westman remain unclear.
A search warrant revealed that Westman's car, used in the days leading up to the attack, was equipped with a dashcam. Videos from the camera reportedly show Westman appearing agitated after a family visit and later sobbing before driving past the church and school the night before the attack.
The documents include transcripts of interviews with Westman's father, ex-girlfriend, a close friend, and former co-workers. These individuals described Westman as a solitary individual prone to depression. While some mentioned Westman expressing suicidal thoughts years earlier, they reported no indications that Westman would harm others. Westman's father noted that his child had lost significant weight and struggled with eating but saw no reason to be concerned about Westman's intentions prior to the shooting. Some relatives declined to speak with law enforcement.
City officials have indicated that more documents or videos may be released in the future. Many of the released documents have been redacted to protect victim privacy, and no images from inside the church were made public.