Search Warrant Reveals Annunciation Shooter Used AR-15-Style Rifle and Military-Grade Ammunition
Minneapolis authorities have disclosed new details regarding the tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church, revealing that the suspect, 23-year-old Robin Westman, used an AR-15-style rifle loaded with standard military-grade 5.56mm ammunition during the attack. This information comes from search warrants executed at multiple locations connected to the suspect and the crime scene, shedding light on the weapons and ammunition involved as well as the aftermath of the shooting.
During the shooting on Wednesday, Westman fired multiple rounds from the exterior of the southwest Minneapolis church, killing two children—eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and ten-year-old Harper Moyski—and injuring 18 others, including both children and elderly adults. He ended his rampage by taking his own life inside the church, where law enforcement found him with a shotgun, an AR-15-style rifle, and a makeshift weapon constructed from a 2×4 wooden board with smoke canisters affixed.
According to the search warrant documents obtained by law enforcement, investigators recovered at least 40 bullet fragments within the church’s pews and sanctuary, along with 10 ammunition magazines comprising three empty rifle magazines, three full rifle magazines, and three full pistol magazines. The shooter’s weapons included a Mossberg pump-action shotgun, a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol, as well as a Magpul AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, the latter being the primary firearm used during the attack. The ammunition found consisted largely of 5.56mm rounds, which are commonly used by military forces worldwide.
Additional forensic details indicate that Westman discharged at least four magazines of rifle ammunition during the shooting. Along with empty magazines, other magazines containing live rounds were recovered at the scene — three rifle magazines and three pistol magazines. Investigators also discovered six live shotgun shells and a live round stuck in the handgun’s chamber. A pouch attached to the suspect’s belt held additional shotgun shells, suggesting he had more rounds available but was stopped when he died by suicide.
The suspect recently purchased the three firearms legally and had no documented criminal record. Surveillance footage from the church captured portions of the shooting, while investigators also found the suspect’s cellphone with personal documents and writings showing an obsession with mass shooters. Reports indicate Westman had visited the church weeks prior to the attack to conduct surveillance, though no clear motive has been confirmed.
Search warrants were executed not only at the church but also at three residences associated with the suspect in Minneapolis, Richfield, and St. Louis Park. Authorities collected over 150 items for forensic analysis including shell casings, weapons, ammunition, and personal effects. Officials continue to analyze the extensive evidence collected.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has stated that law enforcement is focused on understanding the shooter’s motivations and preventing similar tragedies in the future. Meanwhile, local communities and organizations are mobilizing support for the victims and their families affected by this devastating event.
This shooting marks yet another heartbreaking instance of gun violence involving military-style weapons and raises ongoing concerns about firearm access and public safety in the United States.