A 17-year-old girl from North Carolina faces charges for allegedly aiding and abetting in a deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque. Authorities allege she recorded a livestream of the attack and shared the attackers’ manifesto.
Details of the Charges
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill announced that the teen, named Sarah L. Santiago in court records, was indicted on three murder counts and one conspiracy count. Although she remained in North Carolina during the incident on May 18, she is accused of facilitating the spread of the attackers’ materials.
She disseminated that information. And she published their manifesto,O’Neill stated.
The Attack
Attackers Caleb Vazquez, 18, and Cain Clark, 17, targeted the Islamic Center of San Diego with intent to harm worshippers. They killed three men—Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad, and Mansour Kaziha—who confronted them. The attackers later died by suicide near the scene. Authorities revealed the mosque was part of a larger plan, intending attacks on a local Jewish temple and an African-American high school.
Legal Consequences and Investigation
The indictment claims Santiago agreed prior to the attack to assist with the livestream and manifesto distribution. She also allegedly purchased a white-supremacist patch for one attacker. Despite her absence in California, she faces charges in North Carolina due to the severity of her alleged actions.
She didn’t have to be in California, she’s in our jurisdiction,O’Neill remarked.Today, a grand jury indicted her for her actions leading up to that tragic day in May.
According to North Carolina law, Santiago is being treated as an adult due to the nature of the charges.
Broader Investigation
The ongoing investigation has involved over 100 interviews, more than 30 search warrants, and the review of over 4 million messages. Reid Davis, FBI Charlotte Special Agent, emphasized Santiago had multiple chances to report the planned attack but failed to do so, stressing the importance of accountability.
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