Sarah Santiago Indicted on 3 Murder Counts in San Diego Mosque Attack
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 31
Sarah Santiago Indicted on 3 Murder Counts in San Diego Mosque Attack
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 31
Summary
Forsyth County prosecutors charged 17-year-old Sarah Santiago as an adult with three counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy, alleging she helped execute the May 18 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Prosecutors say Santiago communicated with the two attackers on Signal, watched the livestream, released their writings and provided a Sonnenrad neo-Nazi patch worn during the attack, making her liable as an aider and abettor despite being in North Carolina.
Three men were killed at the mosque while about 140 children were playing at an on-site school; the two suspects, Cain Clark and Caleb Vazquez, were later found dead in a nearby vehicle.
The indictment also alleges plans to target a Jewish temple and Black high school students, and officials said they arrested Santiago before the school year and holy days because they saw too much risk in waiting.
District Attorney Jim O'Neill called the gunmen domestic terrorists, while Santiago's lawyer said she is innocent and the FBI said the investigation remains ongoing.