Credited from: INDIATIMES
A 17-year-old girl from North Carolina has been indicted for murder in connection with the May 18 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. She is accused of recording a livestream of the attack that resulted in the deaths of three men, including security guard Amin Abdullah, and disseminating the shooters' white supremacist manifesto, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.
The Forsyth County District Attorney, Jim O'Neill, stated that the teenager, whose name remains undisclosed, was indicted on three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy, underlining that North Carolina law holds individuals who aid and abet crimes equally accountable as the perpetrators themselves. She was arrested last week as authorities sought to restrict any potential threats before the start of the school year, reports Reuters and BBC.
On the day of the shooting, Caleb Vazquez, 18, and Cain Clark, 17, opened fire in the mosque, aiming to cause maximum casualties. They were confronted by Abdullah, who initiated a lockdown to protect approximately 140 children present, ultimately saving more lives. After the attack, both gunmen took their own lives, with plans to further attack a Jewish temple and an African American high school, according to India Times and CBS News.
O'Neill emphasized the danger posed by online radicalization, noting the girl was involved in an extremist network similar to that of the shooters. The investigation included extensive cooperation among local and federal agencies, resulting in over 100 interviews and a review of millions of messages to ascertain the degree of complicity, as highlighted by Los Angeles Times and Reuters.