Teen girl charged with murder over recording of San Diego mosque attack

What the report says

A 17-year-old girl from North Carolina has been charged in connection with the 18 May shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, according to BBC World News. Prosecutors say she recorded a livestream of the attack and also published a manifesto linked to the two teenage gunmen involved. She was arrested last week and later indicted by a grand jury in Forsyth County, North Carolina.

The BBC reports that prosecutors have charged her with three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy under North Carolina law, which can hold someone criminally responsible for helping carry out a crime. District Attorney Jim O’Neill said authorities believed the attackers wanted both to kill people and to have the violence filmed and streamed. The case is being handled in North Carolina even though the underlying attack took place in San Diego.

Three people were killed in the mosque shooting: a security guard, Amin Abdullah, and two worshippers, Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad. Authorities say Abdullah’s response helped protect about 140 children inside the building. Police also said the teenage attackers had planned additional attacks elsewhere and left behind racist and antisemitic writings. The case has drawn attention because it combines allegations of assisting violent extremism with the use of social media and livestreaming in a mass-casualty attack.