Former Classmate Recounts Disturbing Behavior of Minnesota Shooter Robert Westman

Early Signs of Disturbing Behavior

• 💡 A former classmate, Josephina Sanchez, describes Robert Westman as erratic and off from seventh grade.
• ⚠️ Sanchez noted red flags including Westman writing in code and being verbally abusive towards her and his friends.
• 🚩 A significant red flag was Westman performing Nazi salutes, often when teachers were not present.

School Discipline and Journals

• 🏫 Sanchez stated that their Catholic school, St. Agnes High School, was very discreet about punishments and did not recall Westman being disciplined for discussing school shootings.
• ❓ Both Sanchez and the interviewer expressed surprise that Westman was not sent for mental health counseling after being suspended in seventh grade for talking about school shootings.

Anti-Semitic Views and Personal Identity

• ✡️ Westman was described as violently anti-Semitic, though Sanchez could not pinpoint the origin, suggesting it might stem from family or personal mental health issues.
• ❓ Sanchez stated that Westman showed no signs of struggling with his gender identity when she knew him, contradicting his later petition to change his name to Robin to identify as a girl.

Impact and Trauma

• 💔 Sanchez found it traumatizing to see Westman's picture associated with the shooting, realizing she was in the same classroom with him.
• 💬 The US attorney noted Westman's journals indicated a heart