'Disturbing writings’ but no motive in Minn. school shooting: Police chief

(NewsNation) — As investigators work to uncover a motive in a Minneapolis shooting that left two children dead and 17 people injured, police Chief Brian O’Hara told NewsNation he understands the public’s demand for answers. However, he said the tragedy may never make sense.

O’Hara told "Morning in America" on Thursday that investigators have found “very disturbing writings” but no clear motive.

"A number of things they’ve seen so far are really some very disturbing writings and a whole lot of hate. Hatred towards a whole lot of people and various different groups," he said. "We have not been able to identify a specific motive, a specific reason, or specific triggering event."

O'Hara added, "Unfortunately, this does seem to be what is all too common in our county, which is this classic pathway to violence of just a deranged person who looks to cause mass violence for their own personal notoriety."

Minnesota gunman had ‘manifesto’

The shooter, identified by authorities as 23-year-old Robin Westman, died on the scene from what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot.

The weapons used in the attack were purchased legally, and gun magazines had phrases such as “Kill Donald Trump” and “Where is your God?” written on them, according to police.

Authorities “have not been able to identify a specific motive, a specific reason or a specific triggering event” that would’ve caused Westman to target the school, he told NewsNation.

Westman, who legally changed names in 2017 from Robert to Robin, had “some sort of manifesto that was timed to come out on YouTube,” O’Hara said Wednesday.

That video has since been taken down, and investigators were examining the footage.

Brooke Shafer and Libbey Dean contributed to this report.