Teacher Alleges Dismissed Warnings About Minneapolis Church Shooter
A former teacher of the Minneapolis church shooter has come forward, stating she alerted authorities about her student’s signs of self-harm, but her concerns were not addressed.
Sarah Reely, an art instructor at a military-style high school that Robin Westman—previously known as Bob—attended, described the then-student as "definitely odd," noting a clear struggle to fit in with peers.
In a Facebook post, Reely shared her insight: “Back when Robin went by Bob, I recognized this was a kid who needed help,” including a photo of a peculiar sculpture created by Westman under her guidance.
Reely characterized Westman as someone deeply interested in furries and peculiar artwork. "Westman was unusual and made some strange comments, but to my knowledge, was not violent," she stated. "Being a queer kid in a conservative setting made fitting in challenging, so I made a point to connect with this student."
Reely observed signs of self-harm on Westman’s arms and conveyed the need for assistance to school officials. However, it remains uncertain whether any actions were taken before Westman left the school, as Reely described the student as “vanishing.”
“Self-harm signals either a plea for help, self-loathing, or both, but it inevitably indicates something is wrong,” she wrote.
Reely expressed the emotional burden on teachers, explaining the difficulty in knowing many former students might not be heard from again. “Every educator has a list of students they think about constantly, and ‘Bob’ was certainly on mine.”
When questioned about whether warning signs were overlooked, Reely commented, “I’m not sure if they were missed. I noticed them. I think we lack training, awareness, and resources.”
While Reely refrained from disclosing the school’s name, she indicated it was not the Montessori school where she currently teaches.
After declining to provide further comments when approached by the media, she noted, “I’ve said what I needed to say and am focused on preparing my lessons for the new school year.”
Reely’s online materials and LinkedIn profile indicate she previously taught at Saint Thomas Academy, a Catholic all-boys institution characterized by a military framework.
The academy did not respond promptly to requests for comment.
Robin Westman, who transitioned from Robert to Robin in 2020, had a brief stint at Saint Thomas following a three-month period at a Minnesota Transitions Charter School aimed at assisting students facing challenges in traditional settings.
An administrator from Minnesota Transitions remarked, “It simply didn’t click. This is common for many students here. We were unaware of any behavioral issues.”
Details surrounding Westman’s duration at Saint Thomas Academy remain unclear, as she eventually graduated from Southwest High School in Minneapolis in 2021.
Westman also attended the Annunciation Church and Catholic School, where over 116 shell casings were recovered from the scene of the shooting.
In a tragic incident, Westman fatally shot Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, while they were praying in the pews of Annunciation Church prior to 8:30 a.m.
Several others, including 12-year-old Sophie Forchas and 13-year-old Endre Gunter, were reported to be in critical condition in the hospital following the shooting.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, immediate assistance is available through the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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