Investigation into Minneapolis Church Shooting
and Gender Transition Drugs

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Director of Health and Human Services, is examining whether a transition drug, potentially taken by the transgender shooter in the recent Minneapolis Catholic Church incident, may have played a role in the tragic events.

This devastating shooting resulted in the deaths of two children, aged 8 and 10, while injuring 17 others. Authorities revealed that the shooter, Robin Westman, who died by suicide after the attack, identified as transgender and had posted an extremist message on social media prior to the incident.

“It’s not occurring in other countries. This is happening here, and we need to look into all potential factors that could contribute,” Kennedy stated. When pressed about whether certain drugs might lead to violent behavior, he indicated that investigations are underway.

“We’re conducting that kind of research right now,” he added during an interview on Fox & Friends. The discussion also referenced another school shooting involving a transgender individual named Audrey Hale.

“We’re beginning to examine how these transition drugs might factor in,” Kennedy noted, though he didn’t specify if any suspects had taken such medications related to their gender transition.

“Drugs like SSRIs and other psychological medications might contribute to violent tendencies,” he said, referring to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors typically used to manage depression.

“Many of these have black box warnings about risks of suicidal and violent thoughts. So, it’s essential we can’t dismiss them—this is part of our ongoing research,” he explained.

The suspect, who had changed his name from Robert to Robin in 2020, had reportedly struggled with suicidal thoughts for years. Kennedy emphasized, “In the past, it was rare for individuals to burst into places like churches or schools and start shooting; yet, this is becoming more common here.” He underscored the importance of exploring all possible contributors to such violence.

Critics from mainstream media have highlighted the silence surrounding the identity of the transgender shooter, pushing for more transparency in reporting these aspects of the incident.