A transgender individual identified as Robin/Robert Westman admitted in handwritten journals that he was “tired of being trans” and expressed a desire to have “never brain-washed myself,” according to reports. The statements were shared online before Westman carried out a mass shooting at an Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, killing two children and wounding 17 others on Wednesday morning.
Westman’s journals, partially translated from a mix of Russian Cyrillic script and English, included references to his struggles with gender transition, including frustration over maintaining long hair as “the last shred of being trans.” He wrote, “I am tired of being trans, I wish I never brain-washed myself,” and noted plans to cut his hair on the day of the attack. The writings also revealed violent fantasies about killing children and glorification of the Sandy Hook massacre, where 20 schoolchildren were killed.
Westman, who had previously petitioned to change his name from Robert to Robin in 2020, reportedly expressed confusion about his gender identity, stating, “I don’t want to dress girly all the time but I guess sometimes I really like it. I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man.” His online posts also included phrases such as “kill Donald Trump” and “for the children” scrawled on gun magazines.
After the attack, Westman took his own life. His suicide note, obtained by a self-described friend of the shooter, contained personal apologies to family members and reflections on depression, anger, and perceived societal injustices. The note concluded with a plea for forgiveness and a call for others to “find hope” despite the violence.
The case has sparked discussion about the role of mental health, gender identity, and extremist rhetoric in such acts. No further details have been released regarding the individual’s motivations beyond the writings disclosed.
