Naples Connection: Minnesota School Shooter’s Mother Tied to Naples Condo Investigation

Collier County Deputies Respond Before the Attack

Hours before a horrific school shooting in Minneapolis, Collier County deputies were called to a Naples condominium linked to Mary Grace Westman—the mother of the suspected gunman, Robin Westman. Deputies conducted a welfare check at around 10:16 p.m. the night before the shooting after a concerned father asked about his juvenile daughter, who had reportedly lived there. Deputies confirmed both mother and daughter were safe, and that the call was unrelated to the shooting.

When the shooting occurred in Minneapolis—during a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church—deputies returned to the condo at around 5:30 p.m. The caller was concerned that Westman had left her patio door unlocked while flying to Minnesota and alerted them to a crowd forming outside her home.

Property Records and Community Response

Property records confirm that Mary Grace Westman owns a condo in the Newcastle Condos on Squire Circle in Naples. Neighbors later recognized her from a retirement photo posted by the school, and unmarked vehicles were seen outside her condo in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Local law enforcement confirmed that no direct connection between the welfare check and the Minneapolis shooting was established at the time.

Federal Investigation Advances in Florida

Following the shooting that killed two children and left many others injured, federal agents executed multiple search warrants at Westman’s Florida home. Investigators seized hundreds of items, including electronic devices, as part of a broader probe into motive and planning.

The case carries a chilling backdrop: the suspect, identified as Robin Westman, meticulously plotted the attack and left behind online videos hinting at extremist, anti-Semitic motives. One detail fueling the investigation is Westman’s prior name change—approved by his mother in 2020, before transitioning—coupled with her previous job at the school adjacent to the church.

Though federal agents are actively pursuing answers, Mary Grace Westman has not cooperated with investigators and has retained criminal defense attorney Ryan Garry, who maintains she bears no culpability.

Minneapolis Authorities Still Seeking Answers

Despite the searches, Minneapolis officials report that they have yet to speak with Westman. The investigation continues on multiple fronts—trying to establish whether her past connection to the school and her son's planning offer insight into the tragedy’s motive.

What It Means for Naples

For residents in Naples—particularly those near Squire Circle—the incident brings a heavy spotlight to their community. The rapid involvement of Collier County deputies and federal agents underscores the national scope of the investigation. While deputies confirmed the welfare check was unwarranted with respect to the incident, the attention understandably rattled neighbors and sparked concern.

What’s Ahead

As the federal and Minneapolis investigations press on, the public will be watching for any statements from Westman’s attorney or law enforcement clarifying her possible role—or lack thereof—in the lead-up to this tragedy. The legal and emotional fallout continues to reverberate across state lines, tying Naples into a broader national story.