North Carolina teen indicted for murder after livestreaming San Diego mosque attack
A 17-year-old from North Carolina was indicted on murder and conspiracy charges for allegedly recording and sharing a livestream and manifesto of the May 18 San Diego mosque shooting.
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill announced Monday that a 17-year-old North Carolina resident, identified in court records as Sarah L. Santiago, was indicted on three murder counts and one conspiracy count. Prosecutors allege Santiago recorded the livestream of the May 18 attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego and helped distribute the gunmen’s manifesto, as well as purchasing a white-supremacist patch for one of the attackers.
The attack, carried out by 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez and 17-year-old Cain Clark, resulted in the deaths of three men who confronted the shooters. The gunmen later died by suicide. Authorities say the mosque was one target in a broader plan that also included a local Jewish temple and a predominantly African-American high school.
"She disseminated that information. And she published their manifesto," O’Neill said.
O’Neill noted that North Carolina law permits a 17-year-old accused of such conduct to be tried as an adult, allowing the state to prosecute Santiago despite her not being present in California.
"She didn't have to be in California, she's in our jurisdiction," O’Neill added.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis said the investigation involved more than 100 interviews, over 30 search warrants and a review of millions of messages, emphasizing that Santiago had opportunities to alert law enforcement.
"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," Davis said.