WINSTON-SALEM, United States — A 17-year-old North Carolina girl has been indicted on three murder charges over her alleged role in the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego in May.
Sarah Lindsay Santiago was indicted Monday, August 31, 2026, by a Forsyth County grand jury on three counts of murder and one count of felony conspiracy, according to Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill.
Authorities allege that Santiago helped two teenagers accused of carrying out the attack by agreeing to record and livestream the shooting, distribute the footage and publish their manifesto.
The May 18 attack killed Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad, three men who confronted the gunmen at the Islamic Center and were credited with helping prevent further attacks on people inside the complex.
The alleged shooters, Caleb Vazquez, 18, and Cain Clark, 17, later died by suicide in a vehicle near the mosque.
Santiago Was in North Carolina
Santiago was not in California when the shooting occurred.
Authorities allege that she participated remotely in preparations for the attack and subsequently helped disseminate material associated with it.
O’Neill said Santiago was arrested in Winston-Salem on Aug. 27 because investigators did not know what she might do.
“Today’s indictment sends a clear message: Physical distance from an attack does not place someone beyond accountability for the role they allegedly played in making it happen,” said Mark Remily, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office.
The indictment alleges that Santiago agreed before the attack to record and distribute a livestream of the shooting and to publish the attackers’ manifesto afterwards.
Investigators also allege that she purchased a Sonnenrad patch, also known as a Black Sun patch, and sent it to Vazquez. Authorities say Vazquez wore the patch during the attack.
The indictment says Santiago acted with malice and forethought in aiding and abetting the alleged shooters.
Authorities Say Investigation Remains Open
The investigation has involved the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in San Diego, several FBI field offices, San Diego police detectives and the Winston-Salem Police Department, with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators have conducted more than 100 interviews, executed 30 search warrants and reviewed 4 million messages, according to Remily.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said investigators would continue pursuing anyone who may have participated in the attack.
“We stand committed to exhausting every lead to hold anyone who may have played a role in the shooting accountable,” Wahl said.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis said investigators believed Santiago had opportunities to notify authorities before the attack.
“When someone has credible knowledge that a crime is going to be planned or going to be committed, particularly an act of violence, the law requires you to come forward,” Davis said. “The failure to do so must have consequences.”
Remily said the case demonstrated that investigators would pursue alleged connections to acts of violence even when suspects were not physically present at the scene.
“This case demonstrates that law enforcement will aggressively investigate those connections and pursue accountability wherever the evidence leads, including when juveniles are involved,” Remily said.
Three Men Were Killed at the Islamic Center
Authorities said Vazquez and Clark had been radicalised online before meeting each other in person.
The two entered the Islamic Center of San Diego in Clairemont Mesa on May 18 armed with guns and intending to kill people inside, according to authorities.
Abdullah, Kaziha and Awad confronted the attackers. All three were killed.
The gunmen then fled the scene and fired at a landscaper before killing themselves in their vehicle several blocks from the mosque.
Authorities said hateful messages were written on the vehicle and echoed material contained in the manifesto that Santiago is accused of helping distribute.
Prosecutors have also said the mosque was part of a broader plan. O’Neill said the alleged attackers intended to target a local Jewish temple and a predominantly African-American high school after the mosque attack.
Because Santiago faces terrorism-related charges, O’Neill said she will be prosecuted as an adult under North Carolina law.
Santiago is being held without bail. Her next hearing is scheduled for September 21.
