A 17-year-old North Carolina girl is facing three murder charges and one conspiracy count over allegations that she helped document and promote the deadly May 18 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Sarah Lindsey Santiago was not at the California mosque when three men were killed, but prosecutors say her alleged role began before the attack.
According to the indictment described by prosecutors, Santiago allegedly agreed to record and distribute a livestream of the shooting and publish writings produced by the two teenage gunmen. The case now raises a striking legal question: can someone who allegedly helps facilitate a violent crime remotely be held responsible for the killings?
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Sarah Santiago charged in San Diego mosque shooting livestream case
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill announced the charges after a grand jury indicted Santiago on Monday. She had been arrested the previous week and is being prosecuted as an adult in North Carolina.
Prosecutors allege Santiago knowingly agreed in advance to help document and publicize the attack. They also accuse her of purchasing a patch displaying a white-supremacist symbol and sending it to one of the alleged gunmen to wear during the shooting.
“The individual here, locally, was the person who was recording the livestream.”
O’Neill also alleged that Santiago disseminated the material and published the attackers’ manifesto.
Her attorney, Alan Doorasamy Sr., has rejected the accusations.
“At this time I can confirm that my client is innocent of all these charges.”
Santiago is being held without bond. If convicted, she could face life imprisonment without parole under North Carolina law.
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What happened inside the Islamic Center of San Diego on May 18?
The deadly shooting unfolded while children and members of the community were inside the Islamic Center of San Diego complex. Authorities identified Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, as the two gunmen who physically carried out the attack.
Three men were killed: security guard Amin Abdullah, caretaker Mansour Kaziha and community member Nadir Awad.
Around 140 children were reportedly at the mosque’s school when the violence began. According to authorities, resistance and the security response forced the attackers back outside, helping prevent an even greater loss of life.
Clark and Vazquez later fled in a vehicle and died from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
The three victims were subsequently remembered for their actions during the attack, with authorities and members of the Muslim community crediting them with helping protect the children.
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The alleged online role that put Santiago under investigation
The investigation did not stop with the two teenagers who entered the mosque.
Prosecutors say Santiago was one of three people who watched the initial livestream. Investigators initially determined that one viewer was a woman located in the Eastern time zone before identifying that person as Santiago.
Authorities now allege her involvement went substantially further than simply watching the broadcast.
| Official detail | Information |
| Defendant | Sarah Lindsey Santiago |
| Age | 17 |
| State | North Carolina |
| Charges | 3 counts of murder, 1 count of conspiracy |
| Prosecution status | Being tried as an adult |
| Alleged role | Livestream recording/distribution and manifesto publication |
| Attack location | Islamic Center of San Diego, California |
| Attack date | May 18, 2026 |
| Victims | Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, Nadir Awad |
| Alleged gunmen | Cain Clark and Caleb Vazquez |
| Current custody | Held without bond |
Authorities have not said whether the other two livestream viewers have been identified or whether they could face charges.
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Prosecutors say the San Diego mosque attack was part of a bigger plan
The case becomes even more serious because investigators say the mosque shooting may have been only the beginning.
According to prosecutors, Clark and Vazquez had planned additional attacks targeting a Jewish temple and Black students at a high school.
Investigators also found writings containing hateful rhetoric targeting numerous communities. Authorities have described the material as reflecting white-supremacist and far-right ideological influences, with hostility directed toward Muslims, Jewish people, Black people, women, the LGBTQ+ community and people across the political spectrum.
The writings reportedly referenced the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand, where 51 people were killed.
The attackers also expressed a desire to accelerate societal collapse. Vazquez wrote about having “some mental health issues” and experiencing rejection by women. His family later said he was on the autism spectrum and believed his personal struggles, combined with exposure to hateful online material, contributed to his radicalization.
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Inside the alleged online extremist ‘underground subculture’
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill has described the environment surrounding the suspects as an “underground subculture” built around extreme hatred and radicalization.
“It’s an echo chamber of intense hate against different cultures and religions.”
O’Neill said the suspects communicated through encoded online platforms and described their writings as evidence that they appeared to hate people across racial, religious, political and ethnic lines.
That online dimension is now central to Santiago’s prosecution.
Investigators allege that her participation was arranged before the shooting rather than being an accidental encounter with violent footage afterward.
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Why can Santiago face murder charges while being in North Carolina?
This is the legal twist at the heart of the case.
Prosecutors argue that North Carolina law allows an aider and abettor who shares the necessary criminal intent to face the same penalties as the person who directly commits the underlying crime.
That means the prosecution does not need to claim Santiago pulled the trigger. Instead, prosecutors must establish that she knowingly assisted the alleged criminal plan and possessed the required intent.
The alleged advance agreement to record the attack, distribute the footage and publish the attackers’ writings could therefore become crucial evidence.
But the defence is expected to challenge whether Santiago actually shared the gunmen’s criminal intent and whether the evidence proves she knowingly participated in the murders.
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What happens next in the Sarah Santiago murder case?
Santiago now faces three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy in North Carolina. The prosecution must ultimately prove its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case could become significant beyond this particular shooting because it tests how far criminal liability can extend when alleged participation in a violent attack happens remotely through digital platforms.
For now, prosecutors say Santiago knowingly helped facilitate and publicize the attack. Her attorney says she is innocent. Those allegations will have to be tested in court.
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Disclaimer
This article is based on a thorough review of the publicly available information provided from the Associated Press, Reuters, FBI San Diego, San Diego Police Department and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, including law-enforcement statements, court-related information and reporting available as of September 2, 2026. The allegations against Sarah Lindsey Santiago have not been proven in court. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, and details may change as the investigation and legal proceedings continue.
Sources
- Associated Press — “DA says a teen who recorded San Diego mosque shooting livestream has been charged with murder”
Read the Associated Press report - Reuters — “North Carolina girl, 17, charged in role in California mosque attack”
Read the Reuters report - FBI San Diego — Statement on the May 18 Islamic Center of San Diego shooting
Read the FBI statement - FBI San Diego — Update from Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily on the May 18 shooting
Read the FBI update - San Diego Police Department — Islamic Center Shooting preliminary timeline
View the official San Diego Police Department timeline - San Diego Police Department — Official news releases
View San Diego Police Department news releases - San Diego County Sheriff’s Department — Official May 18 shooting statement
View the Sheriff’s Department news releases
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