Minneapolis police say they have been unable to interview Mary Grace Westman, the mother of the 23-year-old who carried out Wednesday’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, after she retained criminal-defense lawyer Ryan Garry. Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters that repeated attempts to reach her have failed, leaving investigators without insight into the gunman’s background or possible warning signs. The suspect, Robin Westman, who legally changed name and gender markers in 2020, fired through a stained-glass window of the Catholic elementary school on 27 August, killing eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and ten-year-old Harper Moyski and wounding 18 others before taking their own life. Officers recovered a journal containing references to past school shootings and plans for “a big assembly on the first day of school.” Mary Grace Westman had worked as a secretary at the same school for five years before retiring in 2021. Investigators are examining whether she had knowledge of her child’s preparations or access to the weapons used. Chief O’Hara said the department continues to seek her cooperation but acknowledged she is within her rights to speak only through counsel.
Minneapolis suspect’s mom retains lawyer as cops say she has not spoken to them https://t.co/6u25KdHcgN https://t.co/jXtCSQ8PKM
🚨CNN claims the transgender Minneapolis shooter was a “daughter”—not a son. "I'm sure she[the mother] is grieving for her daughter!" This is the insanity that has gotten us where we are today. When will it stop? https://t.co/byfELeMm1G
BREAKING 🚨 The mother of the Minneapolis trans school shooter, Mary Grace Westman, requests for people to respect her son’s preferred pronouns — he went by “she/her”. 👀 https://t.co/3WngRdn96z