Mother of church attacker uncooperative as manifesto reveals clues to motive
The mother of the shooter who opened fire at a Minneapolis Catholic school during Mass on Wednesday is not cooperating with investigators as they try to determine what led to the tragic events that left two children dead and 18 others injured, including 15 children.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said dozens of interviews have been conducted with the shooter’s relatives, friends and associates, as well as those who witnessed the carnage unfold at Annunciation Catholic Church.
“I know we have not been successful in talking to the shooter’s mother, yet, at this time,” O’Hara said during a news conference Thursday. “But there continue to be efforts made to get that done.”
Court documents show the shooter’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, applied for her son to legally change his name, writing in 2019, “minor identifies as female and wants her name to reflect the identification.”
GRIEVING FATHER CALLS MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTER A ‘COWARD’ WHO TOOK LIFE OF HIS 8-YEAR-OLD SON FLETCHER DURING MASS
It is not clear why the shooter’s mother is not cooperating with investigators.
When asked by a reporter on Thursday if investigators had been in touch with the shooter’s father, O’Hara initially said he could not confirm that.
But the chief briefly had a side conversation with Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, who said his investigators had been in touch with the father.
KAROLINE LEAVITT CALLS PSAKI’S PRAYER COMMENTS ‘UTTERLY DISRESPECTFUL’ AFTER MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL SHOOTING
Still, investigators have not yet said whether the shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, lived with his mother or father, noting that there are three addresses associated with the individual.
“I can’t verify right now which residence he was staying at, immediately prior to the shooting, but that’s obviously something that will come with the investigation as it continues,” O’Hara said.
The chief noted that the shooter attended Mass at the church while attending the school attached to the place of worship.
“The shooter’s mother was an employee of the parish previously, for some time,” O’Hara said. “So, obviously there is a connection between the shooter and this particular parish.”
VANCE BLASTS PSAKI FOR POST DECLARING PRAYER ‘IS NOT FREAKING ENOUGH’ IN RESPONSE TO MINNESOTA SHOOTING
At around 8:30 a.m., the suspect fired dozens of rounds into the church, shattering stained-glass and pew-side windows as terrified students and parishioners ducked for cover.
Authorities have not yet released a motive, though they have uncovered a manifesto the shooter had timed to be released on YouTube. The video has since been taken down and is under investigation.
The manifesto, police added, appeared to show Westman at the scene and included disturbing writings.
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FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday the agency’s investigation into the “barbaric” attack suggests the attack was an act of domestic terrorism “motivated by a hate-filled ideology.”
He noted that the manifesto and writings on firearms displayed anti-Catholic and anti-religious references.
Specifically, the shooter expressed hatred and violence toward Jewish people and wrote things like “Israel must fall,” “Free Palestine” and used explicit language related to the Holocaust, Patel said.
VP tells Democrats to ‘laugh at themselves’ as Newsom attempts to copy Trump’s style
Vice President JD Vance criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent attempts to imitate President Donald Trump in a sit-down with Fox News host Will Cain, arguing Newsom can’t mimic the “king.”
“You can’t mimic the master; you ought to just go and be yourself. And I think the people would like that a lot more than a cheap imitation of the president of the United States,” Vance said.
These comments followed a series of X posts from Newsom’s press office in August that went viral. The posts appeared to copy Trump’s social media writing style, using all caps, nicknaming political opponents and signing off with his initials.
TRUMP-TROLLING GAVIN NEWSOM SUGGESTS ‘COIN’ IS COMING TO ONLINE STORE: ‘TRUMP CORRUPTION COIN’
One post said, “WOW! TOMORROW HISTORY WILL BE MADE. KaroLYIN LEAVITT WILL HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR THE SUPPOSED “FAKE MEDIA” ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S BEAUTIFUL MAPS. PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY ARE THE GREATEST MAPS EVER CREATED — EVEN BETTER THAN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS’. DONALD “THE FAILURE” TRUMP BE WARNED, TOMORROW MAY BE THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. ALL BECAUSE YOU “MISSED THE DEADLINE.” LIBERATION DAY FOR AMERICA!!! — GCN”
Cain pointed out Newsom’s strategy may be resonating with some blue voters, saying, “His polling numbers have gone way up since he started mimicking President Trump on social media.”
A Morning Consult survey reports that Newsom’s support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents jumped 8 points from June to the end of August.
Vance, however, suggested the former San Francisco mayor’s inauthenticity is not what voters want.
“When I see Gavin Newsom trying to act like Donald Trump, that’s the opposite of authenticity. He’s not trying to be Gavin Newsom — whoever that is. He’s trying to be a fake carbon copy of Donald Trump,” he said. “And it just doesn’t work.”
NEWSOM’S OFFICE CONTINUES TO MOCK TRUMP USING HIS SOCIAL MEDIA WRITING STYLE: ‘TINY HANDS’
The vice president also weighed in on New York City Democratic mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, saying, “I don’t know the guy, but my sense is he’s had a very good life in this country. It would be nice to occasionally show a sense of gratitude instead of just attacking the United States or all its problems.”
The former Ohio senator contrasted those critiques with what he described as Trump’s influence on the political world, urging Democrats to take note.
“The lesson of President Trump in American politics is you’ve got to be authentic to yourself,” Vance advised.
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“Democrats, the one thing they should learn from President Trump is to laugh at themselves a little bit,” he added. “They don’t have to be so serious. They don’t have to get offended at everything. Sometimes, it’s actually a good thing to have a sense of humor about our political process.”
Reflecting on his late grandmother, affectionately dubbed “Mamaw,” Vance said she would be deeply out of step with the state of today’s Democratic Party.
“I think Mamaw would say ‘this is crazy.’ I think she would say the modern Democratic Party doesn’t represent her at all,” he said.
Cowboys trade defensive star in NFL stunner after failed contract negotiations
The Dallas Cowboys did the unthinkable on Thursday, trading All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
Parsons confirmed the move on X with a statement that alluded to the strained contract negotiations with the Cowboys and team owner and CEO Jerry Jones.
“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control,” Parsons wrote. “My heart has always been here, and it still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.”
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Parsons requested a trade earlier this month, saying he “no longer” wanted to be in Dallas, largely because of Jones.
“I no longer want to held to close door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization, our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me. I had purposely stayed quiet in hopes of getting something done,” he said at the time.
TRAVIS HUNTER ANNOUNCES HE’S A FATHER JUST DAYS BEFORE SEASON BEGINS
Jones previously claimed that he offered Parsons the highest contract by a non-QB in NFL history.
Parsons was entering the final year of his rookie deal. He’s recorded 256 tackles, 63 tackles for a loss and 52½ sacks in 63 career games. He’s been one of the best edge rushers in the NFL since he entered the league in 2021.
After his trade to Green Bay, he reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth over $188 million, with $136 million guaranteed. It’s the most money ever given to a non-quarterback.
In exchange for the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, the Cowboys received two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
In his letter, Parsons thanks Cowboys fans for their support, saying he lived out a dream despite growing up in Philadelphia Eagles country.
“From the moment I arrived in Dallas, you embraced me and my family as your own. You made a kid from the east coast feel right at home in Texas. Every time I pulled up to work, every time I stepped onto that field, I felt the weight and pride of representing you. You didn’t just give me a jersey, you gave me a place to belong,” Parsons wrote.
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“North Texas will continue to be my home in the offseason. I’ll still be here, giving back to the community that gave me so much. And no matter where the next chapter takes me, the bond we’ve built will never break. Thank you, Cowboys Nation, for every cheer, every moment, and every ounce of love you showed me. Wearing the star has been the honor of my life.”
Viral blue state prosecutor punished after saying police would ‘regret’ arresting her
The Rhode Island assistant attorney general whose arrest went viral after telling police officers they would “regret” taking her to jail has learned her punishment for the embarrassing scene.
Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan, 34, who was arrested for willful trespass at the Clarke Cooke House restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island on Aug. 14, has been placed on six months of unpaid leave.
“On Aug. 14, Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan mistreated the Newport Police Department and embarrassed herself, the Office, and frankly me,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said, according to the Boston Globe. “We hold our attorneys to the highest personal and professional standards, and Ms. Flanagan plainly did not meet those standards here.”
RHODE ISLAND PROSECUTOR IN VIRAL ARREST VIDEO PLACED ON UNPAID LEAVE, JOB FUTURE UNCLEAR
Police were called to the restaurant just before 10 p.m. after an intoxicated woman, Flanagan’s friend, refused to leave the premises.
During the chaotic encounter with police that was captured on a body-worn camera, Flanagan repeatedly pestered officers to turn their cameras off, insisting that, “Protocol is that you turn it off if a citizen requests to turn it off.”
“I’m an AG! I’m an AG!” Flanagan told police as they tried to detain her for failing to comply.
“You’re going to regret this. You’re going to regret it. I’m an A—,” Flanagan said as she was escorted to the back of a police car and the door was shut.
“I sincerely hope she takes this time to reflect on the seriousness of her conduct and makes corrective changes in her life,” Neronha said in the statement. “She has a long road ahead of her, but I believe that in the long run, our worst moments can inspire us to become better people.”
WATCH: FOOTAGE SHOWS BLUE STATE PROSECUTOR WARNING OFFICERS THEY’LL ‘REGRET’ ARRESTING HER: ‘I’M AN AG!’
Flanagan was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded no contest, according to Boston.com. She reportedly received a six-month filing, which means that after six months the case could be dismissed.
Her attorney, Kevin Hagan, declined to comment.
WATCH: Rhode Island prosecutor pleads no contest after viral arrest
Neronha also clarified that Flanagan’s assertion that police must turn off their cameras at the direction of citizens is false.
“She’s humiliated herself,” Neronha told WPRO previously. “Regardless of what happens vis-a-vis her employment with us, she’s going to have a long time coming back from this. It’s just really unfortunate.”
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“I’ve got 110 lawyers. She embarrassed all of them. I haven’t had many issues like this while I’ve been attorney general,” he said.
Neronha’s office did not return a comment request.
Video shows violent confrontation on flight as passengers scream for police
Video of a wild bust-up on an American Airlines flight shows two men battling it out in the aisle after one allegedly grabbed a woman’s neck while passengers disembarked.
The video, obtained by TMZ, caught the confrontation on American Airlines Flight 2249 as the plane arrived in Miami Monday.
In the clip, a man appears to aggressively grab a woman in the aisle of the plane and push her back before another male passenger rushes forward to intervene.
A “safety alert” announcement can be heard in the background.
MASSACHUSETTS MAN SENTENCED FOLLOWING VIOLENT IN-FLIGHT RAMPAGE ON BOARD UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT
The situation spirals as the man who had allegedly held the woman moves down the aisle. He shoves the intervening passenger into a row of seats, shouting, “Don’t you grab me like that
Other passengers can be heard screaming in disbelief and anger.
“What the f— are you doin’?” one woman shouted, demanding someone arrest the man.
Another passenger pleaded, “We’re trying to pass. Somebody needs to get this man. Call the police.”
A flight attendant can also be heard trying to restore order, asking travelers to clear the aisle so passengers in the back can make their connecting flights.
FBI INVESTIGATING MIDAIR BRAWL THAT FORCED BREEZE AIRWAYS FLIGHT TO DIVERT
Business Insider reported earlier this year that nearly 13,000 “unruly passenger incidents” have been reported to the Federal Aviation Administration by flight attendants since 2021.
“Air travel can often bring out people’s worst tendencies thanks to how much of the experience is out of their control,” the report states.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed to TMZ that deputies responded to a report of battery after the incident.
However, no arrests were made. It is unclear what the passengers were arguing about during the incident.
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One of the men fled, while the other declined to press charges.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and American Airlines for comment.
Viral pro-Trump house draws visitors to elite neighborhood in Florida
A Florida beach house, dubbed the “Trump house,” has taken TikTok by storm for its eye-catching décor.
Marvin Peavy’s Walton County home sits on Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A in the northwestern part of the Sunshine State, which has been dubbed the “Hamptons of the South.”
Peavy stepped into the spotlight over a legal dispute with local officials after he hung large pro-Trump banners on his home.
AMERICANS FLEE TO CANADA SEEKING REFUGEE STATUS AS NUMBERS SPIKE DRAMATICALLY
His TikTok account shows various banners he has installed, amassing millions of views and thousands of followers.
One of Peavy’s most popular videos shows him dancing to “YMCA” with three Trump banners, shot a day before the presidential election.
“Who’s your Daddy?” says one banner. Others say “bulletproof” and “Trump coming home 2025,” all including photos of President Trump.
In 2021, Peavy was ordered to remove the banners within five days or pay $50 per day until he took them down, according to meeting minutes from a Walton County code enforcement hearing.
Last year, Trace Gallagher spoke with Peavy on “Fox News @ Night,” debuting his “Who’s your Daddy?” banner with President Trump pointing.
“[Walton County officials] came against my constitutional right. They tried to beat me at my own God-given constitutional rights. And they can’t do it, I stood up, and I will fight,” said Peavy at the time.
In March 2025, a circuit judge ruled that the fines were unjust, ordering Walton County to pay Peavy’s legal fees, totaling $42,000.
His latest video, posted on July 2, shows a banner of President Trump’s mugshot, captioned “I don’t give a…” with a rat and donkey.
Also shown in the video is a “Welcome to the Gulf of America” map and a “Salute to 250 years of American independence.”
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Peavy’s home is also flanked by American flags.
His TikTok video has garnered a large following, with fans commenting and some even visiting his home.
“I was there this past weekend,” commented one woman with a photo of herself outside Peavy’s house.
Another person wrote, “I saw ur banner yesterday, very patriotic.”
“I’ve been waiting for your new signs! Awesome as always,” commented a user.
One TikToker wrote, “Wish I was your neighbor! A: I could drink coffee every morning waiting on the next banner and B: I would be rich.”
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“Love this. Will forever stop and take a picture when coming to 30A,” said another user.
Someone else commented, “I was obsessed with your house on our vacation.”
Ex-DOJ employee who threw sandwich at border agents faces unexpected legal twist
In 1985, Sol Wachtler, the chief justice of New York’s Supreme Court, famously said, “Any good prosecutor can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.” Perhaps—but indicting someone for throwing a ham sandwich may be tougher than it appears.
A grand jury has reportedly refused to indict 37-year-old Sean Charles Dunn. A former Justice Department employee, Dunn was shown on video shouting obscenities at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents standing near 14th and U streets in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 10 and then striking an officer with a wrapped sandwich.
Daina Henry, a transit police detective, gave the details of the incident in a criminal complaint. Dunn initially walked away before returning and continuing a profane diatribe against the officers, who remained calm. The video shows Dunn raving, “F— you! You f—ing fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” Dunn then threw his sandwich at the officers and ran away, with officers in close pursuit.
DC MAN ACCUSED OF HURLING SANDWICH AT FEDERAL OFFICER ESCAPES INDICTMENT
Dunn appeared to shrug off the incident, saying, “I did it. I threw a sandwich.”
It was a little more than that.
I assume that the charge was brought under 18 U.S. Code § 111 – Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees:
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The District of Columbia is known as one of the most Democratic and liberal jury pools in the country. However, this may be a case of overcharging in the eyes of the jury.
As I previously noted, a sandwich is not a “deadly or dangerous weapon” (more of a deli weapon). Moreover, there was no bodily injury inflicted in the case to justify an enhanced penalty.
Law enforcement officers are not dunk-tank targets for any citizen with rage issues. There need to be consequences—even if it is only a misdemeanor charge.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro promised maximum effort and punishment for Dunn. She posted, “This guy thought it was funny – well, he doesn’t think it’s funny today, because we charged him with a felony: Assault on a police officer. So there, stick your Subway sandwich somewhere else!”
The grand jury may view this as, at most, a simple assault.
There remains the question of who revealed the vote of the grand jury. There is reportedly an inquiry into the possible violation of the grand jury secrecy rule.
There is a basis for a criminal charge of assault. A refusal to indict even on a lower offense would, in my view, be a form of jury nullification.
The question is whether Pirro will now seek the lower charge. She should do so. Law enforcement officers are not dunk-tank targets for any citizen with rage issues. There need to be consequences—even if it is only a misdemeanor charge.
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As I previously noted:
Dunn has already been fired from his position at the Justice Department. He should also face a criminal charge to go with his infamous assault on officers.
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Disease-causing bacteria prompts massive egg recall: What you need to know
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday announced the recall of eggs connected to a salmonella outbreak.
The recall is linked to at least 92 instances of illnesses but zero reported deaths.
Country Eggs, LLC of Lucerne Valley, California, is recalling its large brown cage-free Sunshine Yolks that were sold in 12 counties by the following brands: Nagatoshi Produce, Mizuho and Nijiya Markets.
LIQUID EGGS FOOD PRODUCTS ARE RECALLED, MAY HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED NATIONWIDE
The eggs’ sell-by dates range from “7/1/25” through “9/16/25,” and each recalled carton has a printed code of “No. CA 7695.”
“The potential for contamination was noted after being brought to our attention by the FDA and other authorities that our product may contain the presence of salmonella,” the FDA said. “Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.”
JUMBO PUMPKIN SEEDS FROM CANADA COULD BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA
These eggs were distributed in California and Nevada, the company said.
Consumers who have purchased any of the affected retail brand cartons are urged to return them to the place where they were purchased for a refund or to safely dispose of them.
Salmonella poisoning can result in diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and fever. Symptoms can begin anywhere from hours to a week after ingesting contaminated food.
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It can also be fatal in young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
Bermuda Triangle mystery could be solved, according to British researcher
A scientist from the University of Southampton claims to have solved the notorious Bermuda Triangle mystery.
Situated between Florida, Bermuda and Puerto Rico, this precarious stretch of sea is known for its quickly changing weather patterns, varying sea levels and complicated navigational realities.
The area’s storied ship and plane disappearances have sparked urban legends, earning it the ominous nickname of the Devil’s Triangle.
SCHOOLBOY SPOTS AMERICAN REVOLUTION WARSHIP ON BEACH AFTER STORM UNCOVERS 230-YEAR-OLD WRECK
Oceanographer Simon Boxall told the Daily Mail the disappearances are due to “rough waters.”
“There are storms to the south and north, which come together,” he said in a British documentary, Channel 5’s “The Bermuda Triangle Enigma,” which is not available outside the U.K.
Boxall, along with other researchers, reconstructed a scale model of one of the ships that disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.
During World War I, the USS Cyclops supported warships in European waters as a unit of the Naval Auxiliary Force, according to the National Museum of the United States Navy (NMUSN).
GERMAN RESEARCHERS DISCOVER DOZENS OF SHIPWRECKS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE WWII STEAMER LOST IN AIR RAID
The ship disappeared in March 1918 while returning from Brazil.
“Numerous ships sailed to locate the collier, as she was thought to have been sunk by a German submarine,” the NMUSN website states. “Her wreck has never been found, and the cause of her loss remains unknown.”
Boxall tested the replica to see how it would fare with rouge waves.
Researchers determined the waves could quickly overwhelm the ship due to the vessel’s flat base and large size.
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Since large ships need water to stay afloat, if the ship became suspended in such a way, it could “snap in two.”
“[The waves] are steep, they are high — we’ve measured waves in excess of 30 met[ers],” Boxall said in the documentary.
“If that happens, it can sink in a matter of two or three minutes.”
Australian scientist Karl Kruszelnicki has echoed Boxall’s theory.
“The number [of ships and planes] that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis,” he told The Independent in 2017.
He says that human error and poor weather conditions are likely behind the disappearances that have contributed to the superstition associated with the Bermuda Triangle, Fox News Digital previously reported.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) stated in a 2010 report, “There is no evidence that mysterious disappearances occur with any greater frequency in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other large, well-traveled area of the ocean.”
“The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contend that there are no supernatural explanations for disasters at sea,” NOAA also noted.
“Their experience suggests that the combined forces of nature and human fallibility outdo even the most incredulous science fiction.”