When the news cycle hits a fever pitch around a specific individual, everyone starts digging. They want to know the backstory. They want to know the "why." But often, the most basic questions—like where did Robin Westman work—get buried under the weight of more sensational headlines. It’s kinda strange how a person’s professional life becomes a footnote when things take a dark turn. Honestly, the career path here wasn't a long one, but it was specific.
Robin Westman was 23 years old. Most people that age are still figuring out their first real "adult" job. In Westman's case, the employment history was brief, mostly centered around the medical cannabis industry in Minnesota.
✨ Don't miss: Trump Drops F Bomb Fox News: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The Medical Cannabis Connection
So, basically, the most documented place of employment for Robin Westman was Rise medical cannabis dispensaries. This wasn't some backroom operation. Rise is a well-known name in the Minnesota medical marijuana scene, and Westman worked as a personal care specialist.
You've probably seen these roles before if you've ever stepped into a dispensary. It’s a job that requires a fair bit of patient interaction. You aren't just ringing up sales; you're discussing products, explaining different strains, and helping patients navigate the state's medical program.
According to reports from the Minnesota Star Tribune, Westman was specifically stationed at the Eagan dispensary.
A Short-Lived Tenure
The job didn't last. Westman was hired in March 2025 and stayed with the company until August 16, 2025. If you do the math, that's barely five months.
It wasn't exactly a smooth ride, either. Co-workers later mentioned that there were issues with tardiness and absenteeism. In a medical setting where patients rely on staff being there to help with medication, that kind of thing usually gets noticed fast. By the time the tragic events at Annunciation Catholic Church unfolded in late August, Westman was no longer an employee at Rise. A spokesperson for the company later confirmed that they were fully cooperating with law enforcement during the investigation into the shooting.
The Mystery of the "Conversion Van" Business
Now, here is where things get a bit more vague. There were reports, specifically from neighbors in Richfield like Oscar Gonzalez, that Westman seemed a bit like a recluse. But other neighbors mentioned seeing a conversion van.
👉 See also: Karoline Leavitt on The View: What Really Happened with the Episode Everyone is Searching For
According to a report in the Star Tribune, there was talk that Westman might have been running a business with a female acquaintance. They were often seen with this van. What was the business? Nobody is quite sure. It wasn't a registered corporate entity with a big paper trail. It seems to have been more of an informal, side-hustle type of situation.
Earlier Life and Academic Background
To understand the work history, you kinda have to look at the educational path, because that's where the early "work" happens for most kids. Westman’s connection to the church wasn't just random.
- Annunciation Catholic School: Westman graduated eighth grade here in 2017.
- Minnesota Transitions Charter School: A very brief stint in late 2017.
- Saint Thomas Academy: An all-boys military school in Mendota Heights. Westman was in the Videography Club here but only stayed for freshman year.
- Southwest High School: This is where the graduation eventually happened in 2021.
There’s a lot of focus on the fact that Westman’s mother, Mary Grace, worked at Annunciation for years as a parish secretary. She retired in 2021. This meant the family was deeply embedded in that specific community long before the 2025 tragedy.
Why the Career History Matters Now
When investigators look into where Robin Westman worked, they aren't just looking for a resume. They are looking for behavioral red flags.
In the medical cannabis role, Westman would have passed background checks. The firearms used in the shooting—a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol—were purchased legally, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. This suggests that during the period of employment at the dispensary, there were no legal disqualifiers on the record.
However, the "hundreds of pages of writing" and the YouTube videos scheduled for posthumous release told a different story than the one seen by coworkers at the gun shop or the dispensary. It’s a stark reminder that a workplace persona can be entirely different from what’s going on behind closed doors.
Taking the Next Steps
If you are researching this case for legal, academic, or journalistic reasons, your next steps should involve looking into the specific regulations of the Minnesota medical cannabis program regarding employee background checks and the timeline of Westman's legal name change from Robert Paul Westman to Robin M. Westman in 2020. These legal filings often contain more detailed personal history than a standard job application.
👉 See also: Susan Collins of Maine: Why She is the Toughest Out in Politics
Additionally, searching for public records in Dakota County and Hennepin County regarding the 2021 traffic citations and petty misdemeanors can provide a clearer picture of the transition from school to the professional world.