A year after Minneapolis Catholic school shooting, documents detail swift response, little on motive

A year after a deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church and school, newly released documents detail the swift response of law enforcement officers who arrived within minutes of the incident. The first officer on scene arrived approximately three and a half minutes after the initial call, finding Robin Westman, the 23-year-old perpetrator, wounded and already deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The crime scene was described as horrific, with bullet holes, shell casings, and an overwhelming amount of blood scattered throughout the church, playground, and surrounding neighborhood. Officers immediately began triaging injured students and adults, with one officer riding an adult victim to the hospital, potentially saving her life.

Survivors recounted hearing shots and shattered windows during Mass, with many having to hide under pews or behind other objects for safety. Parents and spouses searched frantically for their missing loved ones, with some hiding near ice machines in the church basement.

The documents provide little insight into Westman's motive, revealing only that he was described as a loner with a history of depression and suicidal thoughts. Investigators noted that Westman had expressed admiration for previous mass shooters and written hateful statements on the weapons and gear he used, but these actions did not explicitly indicate his target or reasoning behind the attack.