North Carolina Teen Charged in Connection with San Diego Mosque Shooting
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A 17-year-old from North Carolina faces serious charges in a case involving the San Diego mosque shooting. Sarah L. Santiago, identified in court documents, has been indicted on charges including murder by aiding and abetting. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill announced that she faces three murder charges and one conspiracy charge, as per The Associated Press.
Though Santiago was not in California during the attack on May 18, she allegedly recorded and shared a livestream of the tragic event and helped distribute the attackers’ manifesto. O’Neill stated, “She disseminated that information. And she published their manifesto.”
The suspects, Caleb Vazquez and Cain Clark, aged 18 and 17 respectively, attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, intending to carry out a mass shooting. The gunmen killed three men — Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad, and Mansour Kaziha — who intervened to stop further violence. After the attack, the shooters died by suicide near the scene, according to police.
Authorities revealed that the mosque was part of a broader attack plan. O’Neill stated, “Their plan that day was to commit mass murders not only at the mosque but to follow up at a local Jewish temple and a predominantly African-American high school.”
The FBI uncovered that Santiago agreed to record and distribute the livestream and manifesto before the attack. She allegedly purchased a patch with a white-supremacist symbol for one of the attackers to wear during the shooting, as reported by The Associated Press.
Despite being in North Carolina, Santiago could still face charges for her involvement. O’Neill explained, “She didn’t have to be in California, she’s in our jurisdiction.” He noted that North Carolina law permits treating 17-year-olds as adults under such circumstances.
The investigation has been extensive, with authorities conducting over 100 interviews and executing more than 30 search warrants. They reviewed upwards of 4 million messages. FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “Our investigation shows that the individual had multiple opportunities to come forward to law enforcement and alert us of these deliberate actions, and the failure to do so must have consequences.”
Sophia Compton is a Writer at Fox News Digital with a background in business reporting. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.