The mother of Robin Westman, the 23-year-old who opened fire on a Minneapolis Catholic school congregation during Mass, killing two young children and injuring eighteen others, is reportedly refusing to cooperate with police and has retained a criminal defence attorney as investigators continue their search for answers in the wake of the attack.

Authorities revealed on Thursday that Mary Grace Westman, a former employee of Annunciation Catholic School, has not been in contact with police since the deadly shooting and has failed to respond to multiple outreach attempts by investigators.

“We have not been successful in talking to the shooter’s mother,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed at a press conference. He provided no further detail on the nature of the communication breakdown, but noted that the department had executed four search warrants on Wednesday and had recovered hundreds of pieces of potential evidence, including digital devices.

The shooter, Robin Westman, who previously attended Annunciation Catholic School and lived within walking distance of the site, was armed when they opened fire during a back-to-school Mass being held at Annunciation Catholic Church on Wednesday morning. The shooting killed two children—10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel—and injured fifteen other students, along with three elderly adults. The gunman died at the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Mary Grace Westman has since retained prominent Minnesota criminal defence attorney Ryan Garry, Fox News reported on Thursday night. Garry, speaking to the outlet, said that Mary Grace is “completely distraught about the situation and has no culpability but is seeking an attorney to deal with calls like this.”

The attorney is known for his representation of high-profile clients, including George Floyd protesters in a case backed by Colin Kaepernick, rapper Desiigner in a 2023 indecent exposure case aboard an aircraft, and a state trooper who was ultimately found not guilty of sex crime charges.

Westman’s mother had worked as a secretary at Annunciation for five years before retiring in 2021, according to the church’s website. In 2020, she signed documents authorising Robin’s legal name change from Robert to Robin, a move that was widely interpreted as a sign of her support for her child’s gender transition.

However, the manifesto left behind by Robin Westman suggested deep personal conflict about their transition. In a video posted online and later removed, Westman said they had “brainwashed” themselves into being transgender and expressed regret over the decision. “I only keep [the long hair] because it is pretty much my last shred of being trans. I’m tired of being trans, I wish I never brain-washed myself,” the shooter reportedly wrote.

Another passage from the translated manifesto read: “I can’t cut my hair now as it would be an embarrassing defeat, and it might be a concerning change of character that could get me reported. It just always gets in my way. I will probably chop it on the day of the attack.”

Westman continued: “I regret being trans. I wish I was a girl. I just know I cannot achieve that body with the technology we have today. I also can’t afford that.”

Law enforcement has not yet confirmed an official motive, though investigators say Westman had a history of extreme anti-religious beliefs and had previously attended the school. According to police, the shooter had scrawled political and emotionally charged phrases such as “Kill Donald Trump” and “For the children” on weapon magazines recovered at the scene. These were discovered along with videos and handwritten pages of a manifesto that had been uploaded online shortly before the attack.

On Wednesday morning, Westman approached the school grounds and began firing through the stained-glass windows of the church where children were gathered for Mass. The two children killed, Harper Moyski and Fletcher Merkel, had just returned to school for the start of the academic year. Fifteen other children, ranging in age from 6 to 15, were injured during the rampage, some critically. Three adults in their 80s were also wounded in the shooting.

Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, but Westman was already dead by the time officers gained access. Initial findings from the search warrants executed later that day suggest that Westman had spent significant time planning the attack and documenting their thoughts online.

The Minneapolis community has been left reeling in the aftermath of the tragedy. Vigils have been held throughout the city and in neighbouring St. Paul, while flags have been lowered to half-mast across the state in honour of the victims. A moment of silence was also observed before the Minnesota Twins’ home game against the Toronto Blue Jays later that evening.

The loss of life has prompted renewed debate on multiple fronts—ranging from gun violence and school security to online radicalisation and mental health. Public scrutiny has also turned toward the shooter’s family, especially in light of the mother’s silence and apparent unwillingness to cooperate with authorities.

Mary Grace Westman has yet to issue any public statement. Through her attorney, she has indicated emotional distress but denied having any knowledge of her child’s intentions. Law enforcement has stopped short of labelling her a suspect or person of interest but has not ruled out further questioning.

Police have stated that Westman’s background and personal writings remain under review. Digital evidence recovered includes phones, laptops, and external storage devices. Investigators are also seeking to confirm the origin of the weapons used in the shooting and how Westman obtained them.

Authorities are continuing to interview those close to the shooter, as well as staff and faculty from the school. While no charges have been filed in connection to the shooting beyond Westman’s own actions, officials stressed that the investigation is ongoing and may expand depending on what the forensic review uncovers.

Meanwhile, the families of the victims have begun releasing statements and tributes. Fletcher Merkel’s father, Jesse, speaking through tears at a press conference, described his son as a loving boy who adored fishing and sports. He asked the public to remember Fletcher for the child he was—not the way he died.

Harper Moyski’s parents, Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin, released a written statement calling their daughter “bright, joyful, and deeply loved.” They expressed grief for Harper’s younger sister, who is “grieving an unimaginable loss,” and called for action to prevent further gun violence. “Change is possible, and it is necessary—so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies,” they said.

As the city mourns, church leaders have asked for prayers, while school administrators have confirmed that counselling services will be made available to students and staff. Annunciation Catholic School remains closed while authorities conduct their investigation.

According to local residents, Robin Westman had been reclusive in recent years. Former classmates described them as quiet and reserved. It is believed that Westman had little ongoing contact with the school or church following their graduation.

The Westman family lived in a Tudor-style home less than a mile from Annunciation Catholic School, on a quiet, tree-lined street. Neighbours have reported increased police activity in the area since the shooting but declined to speak on the record.

Minneapolis police have urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information online and to refrain from contacting individuals close to the case. They have asked anyone with relevant details to come forward and assist with the investigation.

As questions continue to mount around what could have led to such a horrific act, officials say they are determined to uncover every detail—from Westman’s background and ideology to the final hours before the shooting began.