A 17-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of murder after allegedly recording a livestream of a shooting at a California mosque that left three people dead, authorities said.
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According to the BBC, the teenager from North Carolina was also accused of publishing a manifesto written by the two teenage gunmen who attacked the Islamic Centre of San Diego on May 18. She was arrested last week and indicted by a grand jury on Monday, Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill said.
The girl faces three murder charges and one count of conspiracy. Under North Carolina law, a person accused of aiding and abetting a crime can face the same criminal responsibility and penalties as the person who carried out the offence, O’Neill said.
The attack was allegedly carried out by Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, who stormed the mosque before being confronted by security guard Amin Abdullah. The two gunmen later killed themselves in a nearby vehicle.
Abdullah exchanged gunfire with the attackers and initiated a lockdown, helping protect around 140 children inside the Islamic centre. He and two worshippers, Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad, were killed in the shooting.
Investigators said the attackers had mounted GoPro-style cameras on their helmets to record the assault. Authorities also alleged that they had planned further attacks at a local Jewish temple and a predominantly African American high school.
The teenagers reportedly left behind writings containing racist and antisemitic views and references to white supremacist ideology. Authorities said they had an arsenal of around 30 guns and a crossbow, which investigators believe were taken from one of the gunmen's parents.
