Teen girl aided San Diego mosque shooters from North Carolina, prosecutors say
Key Points:
- Sarah Lindsay Santiago, a 17-year-old from North Carolina, was indicted on charges including three counts of murder and conspiracy for allegedly aiding two teenage gunmen in the May mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego by livestreaming the attack and providing hate symbols.
- Prosecutors stated Santiago sent the shooters the patches they wore during the attack and published their manifesto afterward; she will be tried as an adult due to the terrorism-related nature of the crime.
- The two teenage gunmen killed three people, including a security guard who intervened and likely prevented further attacks planned at a nearby Jewish temple and local high school before the shooters took their own lives.
- Authorities emphasized the importance of reporting credible knowledge of planned violent crimes, with FBI agents noting multiple missed opportunities to prevent the shooting, and highlighted the role of online radicalization in motivating such attacks.
- The case involved cooperation between multiple law enforcement agencies across North Carolina and California, with Santiago expected to appear in court on September 10; the investigation is ongoing.