Catholic school shooter underwent breakup before attack on former church: warrant
The Minneapolis Catholic school shooter Robin Westman recently went through a breakup and was living with an older friend, according to one of several search warrants police have obtained in the wake of a deadly attack on Wednesday’s morning Mass.
Westman most recently lived in an apartment in Richfield, according to a search warrant, but the killer’s father told police that the 23-year-old had just gone through a breakup and was staying with a friend in nearby St. Louis Park.
Police also searched Westman’s father’s house in Minneapolis, where they seized a tactical vest, two computer drives and “misc documents,” according to the warrant return.
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE REVEAL MORE ABOUT CHURCH SCHOOL SHOOTER’S MOTIVE
Westman has been identified as the one who opened fire Wednesday morning, killing two children, ages 8 and 10, and injuring 18 other worshipers, including more than a dozen other kids from the school.
Police found Westman dead of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, wearing black “tactical” gear and carrying at least two long guns, according to the warrant. The van Westman used in the attack belonged to James Westman, the killer’s father.
The elder Westman told police about the breakup.
MINNEAPOLIS CHURCH SHOOTER’S MOTHER REFUSES TO TALK TO POLICE AFTER DEADLY ATTACK ON CHILDREN
Westman was born Robert Paul Westman and underwent a legal name change in 2019, according to court documents, becoming Robin M. Westman.
“Minor child [redacted] identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification,” according to a court form filled out by a mother named Mary Grace Westman – the same name as a woman who police said worked at the Annunciation Catholic Church. The shooter also attended the church’s attached Catholic school until eighth grade, according to authorities.
Federal authorities reportedly visited a Florida condominium owned by Mary Grace Westman as part of the investigation into the mother of the shooter who opened fire during a Minneapolis Catholic church Mass on Wednesday, according to WINK News.
Deputies visited the same address a day earlier before the shooting for what police said was an unrelated welfare check involving a juvenile.
“Contact was made with Mrs. Westman, who stated the juvenile and the juvenile’s mother had previously lived there and were no longer residing with her,” the Collier County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital.
Officials noted it was “unrelated to the shooter or shooter’s family.”
The FBI declined to answer questions about activity in Florida.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters Thursday that investigators have not yet spoken with Westman but are continuing efforts to reach her. Authorities confirmed she has not been cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Ryan Garry, a lawyer for Mary Westman, told Fox News she is “deeply distraught” and not involved in the crime but hired counsel to handle law enforcement and media inquiries.
The killer also posted what police are referring to as “manifestos” online.
“[It] appeared to show him at the scene and included some disturbing writing,” O’Hara told reporters during a briefing.
Disturbing videos posted by a person using the name Robin Westman were deleted from YouTube after the shooting, showing handwritten pages of a notebook, weapons with messages painted on them, and commentary from whoever filmed them.
O’Hara added that all three firearms used in the attack had been purchased legally by Westman, who had no prior criminal record.
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Police in Eagan, Minnesota, were part of a multiple-department response to a mental health incident at a former address used by Westman in 2018, according to NBC News, which obtained a heavily redacted report on the matter.
Eagan police did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the incident. Mendota Heights police, who were also involved in the response, declined to answer any questions about the incident or any other encounters at the same address.
Minnesota does have a so-called red flag law, officially the state’s “Extreme Risk Protection Orders” program, which can block people from purchasing firearms for mental health reasons – but they have to first be flagged by their parents, prosecutors, or high-ranking police officials, according to the state government.
Illinois governor in hot seat after alleged killer caught in Mexico for 2023 crime
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is pursuing the extradition of a Mexican national who allegedly stabbed a 24-year-old woman to death in her Illinois apartment, and she is also taking aim at Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker as a result.
The suspect, Gabriel P. Calixto, is charged with first-degree murder and domestic battery for allegedly killing Emma Shafer in Springfield, Illinois, in July 2023. Calixto was in the U.S. illegally when the crime was committed, and he was captured by Mexican law enforcement on Thursday.
“The vicious illegal alien murderer who has been evading justice for two years after stabbing 24-year-old Emma Shafer has been ARRESTED. We will continue to work with federal authorities to coordinate extradition proceedings,” Noem said in a statement. “THANK YOU to our law enforcement partners for bringing this perpetrator to justice.”
DHS REVEALS ILLEGAL MIGRANTS CONVICTED OF CHILD MOLESTATION, RAPE ARRESTED IN DC UNDER TRUMP CRIME CRACKDOWN
The announcement comes as the Trump administration is considering a crime crackdown in Chicago, which could lead to a possible surge in National Guard troops and ICE agents conducting operations.
“I am calling upon Governor Pritzker, and other leaders in the state of Illinois, to abandon these dangerous sanctuary policies,” Noem added. “We need to return to law and order and put the safety of Americans first.”
Noem held a press conference in Springfield in May to criticize the state’s immigration policies.
DHS SAYS NOEM IS TEMPORARILY STAYING IN MILITARY HOUSING AFTER FACING ‘VICIOUS DOXXING,’ DEATH THREATS
Pritzker is specifically opposing the possible deployment of the National Guard, which is underway in Washington, D.C., to serve as a deterrent to crime. The Democrat said it is “un-American” to send troops into the city at a press conference on Friday.
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“A U.S. president invading a city with troops. It is un-American. We always need help with crime, but not troops,” he said.
The Washington, D.C., crime crackdown has resulted in hundreds of immigration arrests on its own, including alleged gang members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13. Many Democrats have opposed the troop deployment, but there have been degrees of nuance in the criticism and even praise for the takeover in the capital city. The takeover has ranged from federal oversight of the police force to other federal agencies patrolling the streets.
NOEM, IN ILLINOIS, CALLS OUT GOV. PRITZKER, CHICAGO’S MAYOR OVER THEIR HANDLING OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
“This is what we think in just a couple of weeks of experience has worked,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Wednesday, saying it’s helped with the seizure of illegal guns.
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“We think that there is more accountability in the system, or at least perceived accountability in the system, that is driving down illegal behavior. We know that we have had fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides, and we have experienced an extreme reduction in carjackings.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Pritzker’s office.
Julia Roberts speaks out as new film faces backlash and divides audiences
For Julia Roberts, it’s important that movies spark conversation.
The actress, 57, isn’t often known for weighing in on cultural debates, but during a news conference Friday at the Venice Film Festival, she spoke out about some backlash that her new film, “After the Hunt,” has been receiving from attendees of the festival.
According to Variety, a reporter noted that the movie had “caused controversy” among some viewers, who complained that the story “revives old arguments” about women believing other women when they make allegations of sexual assault, a central issue of the #MeToo movement.
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“Not to be disagreeable, because it’s not in my nature,” Roberts answered, “but the thing you said that I love is it ‘revives old arguments.’ I don’t think it’s just reviving an argument of women being pitted against each other or not supporting each other. There are a lot of old arguments that get rejuvenated that creates conversation.
“The best part of your question is that you all came out of the theater talking about it. That’s how we wanted it to feel. You realize what you believe in strongly because we stir it all up for you. So, you’re welcome.”
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The outlet reported that, after giving this answer, Roberts was asked about the topic again, promting her to complain that people seem to be “losing the art of conversation in humanity right now.”
“We’re not making statements; we are portraying these people in this moment in time,” she explained. “I don’t know about controversy, per se, but we are challenging people to have conversation. To be excited or infuriated about it is up to you. If making this movie does anything, getting everybody to talk to each other is the most exciting thing that I think we could accomplish.
“I love the softball questions early in the morning,” she joked.
At one point, director Luca Guadagnino jumped in, saying, “It’s how we see the clash of truths. It’s not about making a manifesto to revive old-fashioned values.”
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According to the Venice Film Festival’s website, “‘After the Hunt’ is a gripping psychological drama about a college professor who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student makes an accusation against one of her colleagues, and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light.”
In addition to Roberts, the movie stars Ayo Edebiri, who plays her student, and Andrew Garfield.
Judging by Roberts’ commentary, a key goal for the film, which is scheduled for a North American theatrical release Oct. 10, is sparking difficult conversations. The tagline on the poster even says “not everything is supposed to make you feel comfortable.”
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Man hospitalized with ‘ancient disease’ after camping trip in southwestern US
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has reported the first case of human plague in 2025.
New Mexico health officials confirmed the infectious disease in a 43-year-old man from Valencia County who was hospitalized and has been discharged since the Aug. 25 press release.
The man recently spent time camping in Rio Arriba County, where officials believe he may have been exposed.
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The plague is known to “circulate among wildlife” throughout the western U.S., the release stated.
Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian for NMDOH, commented in a statement that this case is a reminder of the “severe threat that can be posed by this ancient disease.
“It also emphasizes the need for heightened community awareness and for taking measures to prevent further spread.”
The last human plague case in New Mexico was recorded in a Lincoln County resident in 2024.
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The plague is a bacterial disease of rodents, which is generally transmitted to humans through infected flea bites, according to NMDOH.
The disease can also be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals, including wildlife and even pets.
Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache and weakness and a “painful swelling of the lymph node” in areas of the body like the groin, armpit and neck.
In cats and dogs, symptoms can include fever, lethargy and loss of appetite, in addition to lymph node swelling under the jaw.
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The plague can be treated with antibiotic medications, which can “greatly reduce” the fatality rate in people and pets after a “prompt diagnosis,” NMDOH reports.
The best ways to prevent plague infection are avoiding sick or dead rodents and rabbits, cleaning up areas where rodents may nest and storing hay, wood and compost piles far away from the home.
Using insect repellent while camping, hiking or working outdoors can also help to prevent plague exposure.
For those with pets, NMDOH recommends using an appropriate flea repellent and having sick pets examined by a veterinarian.
Any unexpected illness involving a sudden, severe fever should be checked out by a doctor.
Fox News Digital reached out to NMDOH for comment.
Military veteran who made Washington ‘squeal’ won’t return to Capitol Hill after 2026
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa will not run for re-election in next year’s midterms, three sources confirm to Fox News.
And the 55-year-old Ernst, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014, is expected to make an official announcement next week.
Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War, has been wrestling for months whether to run for re-election in 2026.
The senator’s decision to retire rather than seek a third six-year term creates an open seat in Iowa.
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GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, a former TV news anchor who is in her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers the northeastern portion of the state, is planning on running to succeed Ernst, multiple sources confirm to Fox News.
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Iowa was once a top battleground state that former President Barack Obama carried in his 2008 and 2012 White House victories. But the state has shifted to the right in recent election cycles, with President Donald Trump carrying the state by eight points in 2020 and by 13 points last November.
Republicans currently hold both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats – Ernst and longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley – and all four of Iowa’s congressional districts, as well as all statewide offices except for state auditor, which is held by Democrat Rob Sand, who’s running for governor next year.
But Democrats in Iowa are energized after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections so far this year.
Four Democrats are already running for Senate in Iowa. The field includes state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player, state Sen. Zach Wahls, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce executive director Nathan Sage and Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris.
Ernst first grabbed national attention 11 years ago with her “make ’em squeal” ads as she won the high-profile Senate election in the race to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.
The senator, thanks to her military background, has often taken the lead on defense issues. She is the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate, and made combating sexual assault in the military a priority, having been a survivor of sexual assault herself.
Since Trump’s White House victory in 2016, Ernst has tried to strike a balance between her support for the president as she hued to a more traditional Republican agenda.
Earlier this year, Ernst sparked a controversy after she said, “We are all going to die,” when responding a voter at a town hall meeting who raised concerns over Medicaid cuts in the GOP’s sweeping domestic policy bill.
Republicans are aiming to not only defend, but expand, the current 53-47 Senate majority in next year’s elections.
Senate Republicans enjoyed a favorable map in the 2024 cycle as they flipped four seats from blue to red to win back the majority.
But the party in power—clearly the Republicans right now—traditionally faces political headwinds in the midterm elections. Nevertheless, a current read of the 2026 map indicates the GOP may be able to go on offense in some key states.
In battleground Georgia, which Trump narrowly carried in last year’s White House race, Republicans view first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Democrat incumbent up for re-election next year.
They’re also targeting battleground Michigan, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring at the end of next year, and swing state New Hampshire, where longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen decided against seeking a fourth six-year term in the Senate.
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Also on the NRSC’s target list is blue-leaning Minnesota, where Democratic Sen. Tina Smith isn’t running for re-election.
But the GOP is defending an open seat in battleground North Carolina, where Republican Sen. Thom Tills decided against seeking re-election.
News anchor dies suddenly after recently taking new job at local television station
A news anchor who had just recently started a new job at a Mississippi-based TV news station died suddenly of a heart attack.
Celeste Wilson was only 42 years old, according to the “Today” show.
“We have some very sad news tonight about one of our own,” WAPT anchor Troy Johnson said on the air this week.
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“Our colleague Celeste Wilson, who recently joined 16 WAPT as our weekend anchor, died from a heart attack,” co-anchor Megan West said. “Celeste had only been with us here at 16 WAPT for a short time, but we were already touched by her professionalism, her warmth and her dedication to the work of journalism.”
Wilson started her career at a CBS affiliate in Monroe, Louisiana, before eventually arriving at the Jackson, Mississippi, ABC affiliate.
Wilson was a native of Louisiana and graduated from Northwestern State University before getting a master’s degree at Arizona State University, according to her news anchor profile, which remains on the station’s website.
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“While she has held various roles throughout her professional career, her passion for journalism and storytelling drove her to pursue a path in Broadcast Journalism,” the profile said.
Before joining WAPT, she worked at several other stations, including PBS.
“With a strong commitment to faith, family, community, and deep Mississippi ties, Celeste is excited to explore Jackson and share Mississippi’s stories,” the profile concluded.
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A story on Wilson’s death on the news station’s website added, “All of us here at 16 WAPT are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and our thoughts are with Celeste’s family and friends.”
Missouri quarterback suffers devastating injury on first snap in season opener
Missouri quarterback Sam Horn went down with a devastating injury on his first snap of Thursday night’s game against Central Arkansas, remaining sidelined for the entirety of the Tigers’ 61-6 victory.
His injury comes amid an ongoing battle for the starting quarterback position with Penn State transfer Beau Pribula.
Horn, a redshirt junior, came onto the field during the second series of the game with the Tigers already leading 6-0. He ran the ball 6 yards on his first play before appearing to take a hit to the lower body.
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Horn remained on the ground as teammates attempted to help him up. He was eventually helped off the field by medical staff.
“[I’m] very disappointed and sad with the injury to Sam and the injury to Blake Craig, and those two things are really disappointing, and we’ll see tomorrow what the extent of those injuries are,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz told the media after the game.
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“So, it kind of takes the damper a little bit off the win.”
Drinkwitz would not speculate when asked if Horn’s injury was expected to be a season-ending injury. He said the team would know more after an MRI on Friday. Horn was spotted on the sideline in a full leg brace and walking on crutches after the game.
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Horn’s injury ultimately secured Pribula’s claim as starting quarterback. The two signal-callers were still battling it out for the No. 1 spot at kickoff.
Pribula finished 23-of-28 passing for 283 yards and two touchdowns, adding another 65 yards and two scores on the ground.
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“I don’t think he stepped up. I think he was just continuing to play the way he was playing,” Drinkwitz said of Pribula’s performance.
“I thought he did a nice job handling the situation. He knew he was going to play the first half, we knew we were going to run that formation pretty early in the game. Just disappointing that [Horn] got injured. It was a heck of a run.”
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World Series champion has simple message for upset Dems after Texas redistricting
World Series champion Mark Teixeira has a message for Democrats upset about Texas’ new congressional map.
Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, signed a new map that likely secures five additional Republican-leaning U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Teixeira, who launched his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, said Democrats who are upset need to “have better policies.”
“Have better policies. I know the progressive policies don’t work in America. You can see it in cities all across the country that have Democratic and progressive mayors, and those cities need to be cleaned up. You see what President Trump is doing in Washington, D.C., right now — it’s working,” Teixeira said during a recent appearance on Fox News’ “America Reports.”
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“What I would tell Democrats in Texas, all over the country, is when you have policies that actually want to help Americans, come talk to us. But Republicans are out there, conservatives are out there with an America First agenda, and we’re going to be helping Americans, helping Texans every single day.”
The former New York Yankees slugger is campaigning for Texas’ 21st Congressional District. Teixeira’s announcement followed Rep. Chip Roy’s decision not to seek re-election as he runs for Texas attorney general.
The three-time All-Star called his policy focus “pretty simple.”
MARK TEIXEIRA’S GOP CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN SPARKS BACKLASH FROM THE LEFT
“It’s secure the border, low taxes, shrink the government while growing the economy, protect life and the Second Amendment. Those conservative principles — helping Americans, helping American families, helping America prosper — are what I will bring out on the trail and what Texas families deserve,” Teixeira said.
“The Texas 21st District is full of great people, patriots that love God, love their country, love the state of Texas, and I can’t wait to go out there and meet all of them and make sure they understand what I believe in.”
The 45-year-old played for four teams in his major league career. Teixeira debuted with the Texas Rangers and spent five seasons with the team before being traded to the Atlanta Braves.
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He was later traded to the Los Angeles Angels after parts of two seasons with the Braves and then signed with the Yankees.
The five-time Gold Glove winner was a key part of the 2009 Yankees team that beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Teixeira finished his career with a .268 batting average, 409 home runs and 1,298 RBIs.
Country star Shania Twain strips down to briefs for bold 60th birthday look
Shania Twain celebrated turning 60 with an iconic throwback shared on Instagram Thursday.
The “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” singer wore a sparkling blue pantsuit with a silver-trimmed blazer in the dressing room snap, captured from before she hit it big in the country music industry.
Twain shared her 1980s glam shot in a carousel which also featured a more recent image of the singer posing in a white button-down shirt with only a pair of black briefs underneath.
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Lyrics from her legendary song were written in bold behind the singer as she threw her arm in the air for the photo session.
SHANIA TWAIN LAUGHS OFF ON-STAGE BLUNDER
“Happy birthday to me! How can I be 60? So glad to have kept some photos from this time in the 80s when I had no idea what was ahead of me and Shania f**king Twain didn’t exist yet,” she captioned the series.
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“I can’t begin to explain how grateful I am for the life that i have. For my family, friends, fans and the inspiration I get from all of you.”
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Twain added, “I’ve tried to stay true to myself along the way and that’s my intention moving forward into the next chapter.”
The “Queen of Country Pop” is one of the best-selling music artists with more than 100 million records sold. She also holds the title as the best-selling female country music artist ever.
The “That Don’t Impress Me Much” singer released her latest studio album, “Queen of Me,” in 2023. She previously told Fox News Digital that she’s honored to witness the transformation from within her industry.
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“I’m also privileged to be a part of where the new country is going. I don’t want to say new country, but the evolution of country music and where it’s headed,” she said.
She added, “I love music, I’m a fan of music. I think the love of it keeps me going.”
When it came to any tips or tricks for maintaining health and wellness, Twain admitted the secret was simple.
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“I enjoy good health and I think happiness has everything to do with it,” the musician said.