In brief
Analysts say a 17‑year‑old girl from North Carolina, who livestreamed the shooting of the Islamic Center of San Diego that left three dead, has now been indicted for three murder counts and conspiracy. Prosecutors warn the teen may hope to return to school, but authorities argue she aided and abetted the two gunmen who opened fire on the mosque, recorded the attack, and had plans for further attacks on a Jewish temple and a black high school. The shooting was marked by a security guard who saved 140 children before being killed, and the teen’s manifesto referenced white‑supremacy arguments and the 2019 Christchurch attack. The case highlights the threat of extremist youth and the role of digital platforms in facilitating hate crimes.
A 17‑year‑old girl from North Carolina has been charged with murder by aiding and abetting after prosecutors said she recorded a livestream of the May 18 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, which left three people dead.
The teenager is now facing three murder charges and one count of conspiracy. Under North Carolina law, an accused person who aids and abets a crime can be held criminally responsible in the same way as the perpetrator.
Investigators say the attack was carried out by two males—aged 17 and 18—who opened fire on the mosque, then took their lives. The attackers used GoPro‑style helmets to film the assault and planned future attacks on a local Jewish temple and a predominantly African‑American high school.
A security guard, Amin Abdullah, exchanged gunfire with the attackers and activated a lockdown that protected about 140 children inside the building. The guard, along with two worshippers—Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad—were fatally shot.
Authorities also revealed the teenagers possessed roughly 30 firearms and a crossbow, which were taken from one of the shooter’s parents. Their writings contained racist, antisemitic, and white‑supremacy rhetoric and referenced the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting as a model.
The case underscores the role of digital platforms in amplifying extremist acts and the legal implications for those who facilitate hate crimes. Prosecutors urge the court to consider the danger posed by the teen’s cooperation and the potential for further violent offenses.
