The 23-year-old responsible for last week’s deadly shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis had grown up in a devout Christian but reclusive family, according to former neighbours.

Robin Westman, who legally changed his name from Robert in 2020, opened fire during Mass on 27th August, killing two children aged 8 and 10, injuring 17 others, and then taking his own life.

Court records reveal his parents insisted on regular Catholic worship even after their divorce, while neighbors in Maplewood remembered weekend religious lessons and gatherings in the family home.

Sandra Edward, who lived across the street, told the Minnesota Star Tribune: "They kept to themselves. They used to have prayer meetings at their house and stuff like that."

Though Westman identified as transgender in recent years, he had reportedly reverted to using male pronouns before the attack.

Colleagues and friends said he spoke openly of confusion around his identity and shared disturbing writings online.

"I think I must be evil," he admitted in one post. "That’s the only explanation I can think of."

Investigators have since uncovered journals revealing a long-standing fixation on school shootings dating back to his teenage years.

His choice to target students during Mass was reportedly due to expectations of lighter security.