"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," FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis said.
A 17-year-old North Carolina girl has been charged with murder by aiding and abetting after allegedly recording a livestream of the deadly San Diego mosque shooting and sharing the attackers’ manifesto.
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill said Monday that the teenager, identified as Sarah L. Santiago in court records, was indicted on three murder counts and one conspiracy count, according to The Associated Press.
Although she was across the country during the May 18 attack, she allegedly recorded and helped distribute the attackers’ livestream and published their manifesto.
"She disseminated that information. And she published their manifesto," O'Neill said.
Caleb Vazquez, 18, and Cain Clark, 17, stormed the Islamic Center of San Diego armed and intending to kill people inside, according to authorities.
The gunmen killed three men — Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad and Mansour Kaziha — who confronted them and helped prevent further bloodshed.
The attackers later died by suicide in a vehicle nearby, police said.
Authorities said the mosque was one target in a broader attack plan.
"Their plan that day was to commit mass murders not only at the mosque, but to follow up at a local Jewish temple. And finally, at a predominantly African-American high school there in town," O'Neill said.
| A trifecta. |
O’Neill said Santiago could face charges in North Carolina even though she was not physically present in California.
"She didn't have to be in California, she's in our jurisdiction," O'Neill said. "And today, a grand jury indicted her and held her responsible for her actions leading up to that disastrous day in May."
O’Neill noted that North Carolina law allows a 17-year-old accused of such conduct to be treated as an adult.
| Update from the NY Post at 4:30 p.m. EDT, courtesy of Skidmark in comments, added for future searchability: |
Prosecutors allege she agreed before the attack to livestream the massacre, distribute the recording publicly and release the gunmen’s manifesto.
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Islamic Center of San Diego: 2026-06-01 Tragic: In the US, a three-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed her younger sister.
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Caleb Vazquez 06/01/2026 Tragic: In the US, a three-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed her younger sister.
Caleb Vazquez 05/22/2026 San Diego mosque shooters, who met online, called for genocide of Jews and Muslims
Caleb Vazquez 05/19/2026 San Diego Mosque Shooting Day 2: Killers identified
Caleb Vazquez 06/01/2026 Tragic: In the US, a three-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed her younger sister.
Caleb Vazquez 05/22/2026 San Diego mosque shooters, who met online, called for genocide of Jews and Muslims
Caleb Vazquez 05/19/2026 San Diego Mosque Shooting Day 2: Killers identified