North Carolina teen indicted as adult for role in San Diego mosque attack

A 17-year-old Winston-Salem girl, Sarah L. Santiago, was indicted in Forsyth County on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy for her alleged role in livestreaming and distributing footage of the May 18 attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and she has been charged as an adult. Prosecutors say she agreed beforehand to record the livestream, publish the attackers’ manifesto, distribute the video, and even acquire a Nazi-symbol patch worn by one of the gunmen; under North Carolina law, aiding and abetting can carry the same penalties as committing the crime itself. The two male gunmen, aged 17 and 18, killed three people and later died by suicide, while authorities say the attack also targeted a synagogue and a Black high school student body. Experts describe the case as a notable escalation in domestic extremism and online radicalization, illustrating how online echo chambers can amplify violent plots. Local authorities and the school district have acknowledged the indictment and emphasized ongoing support for students and the community in the wake of the tragedy. The investigation continues to probe the network of online communities that facilitated the attackers’ plans and the dissemination of their materials.