ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A gun shop owner confirmed that Robin Westman was in his suburban shop and purchased a handgun the weekend before her mass shooting at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. The handgun, however, was not one of the three weapons that Westman used in her attack. Even so, her purchase at Frontiersman Sports, in St. Louis Park showed a calm demeanor that portended nothing of a mass shooting, said owner Kory Westman. She browsed about 40 minutes, before making her purchase. Krause wasn’t on duty at the time, but surveillance video showed Westman handling several guns and chatting casually off and on with three veteran clerks and other shoppers. Nothing in Westman’s conduct raised any concerns among his staffers, who Krause said are trained to watch for warning signs. He said Westman already had passed required background checks and had a valid permit to purchase the gun. Investigators said Westman’s weapons at the church — a semiautomatic assault-style rifle, a shotgun and a handgun were all purchased legally albeit elsewhere.
Westman. At checkout counter at suburban gun shop a few days before the church shooting. Just a normal if not somewhat chatty customer, say clerks. Image: Kory Krause
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