(Update 12:00 Noon: From the Los Angeles Times–Enrique Marquez, the friend of terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook, has been arrested on criminal charges in connection with the Dec. 2 massacre in San Bernardino, federal authorities said Thursday.)
On Thursday, federal authorities confirmed that criminal charges are being prepared against Enrique Marquez, the friend and neighbor of San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook.
Reuters reported U.S. prosecutors may press firearms charges against Marquez, who legally obtained the two AR-15 assault-style rifles that Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik, used in the December 2 massacre in which 14 people were murdered and 2i more victims were wounded. Federal law prohibits intentionally buying a gun specifically for someone else. The FBI is investigating whether those rifles were intended for use in a 2012 attack that he and Farook had planned
ABC 7 reported mere hours after the massacre, a Facebook posting from Marquez’s profile read, “I’m. Very sorry sguys. It was a pleasure.”
Marquez, 24, checked himself into a Los Angeles-area psychiatric facility after the shootings. Two U.S. law enforcement officials said Marquez had been drinking heavily when he checked himself in at UCLA.
Marquez cooperated with the FBI when he was interviewed. He and Farook had known each other for years; Marquez allegedly converted to Islam around 2008.
The two men were related by marriage; state records reveal that Marquez married the sister of Farook’s sister-in-law in 2014.
The FBI said the two men had spoken of martyrdom online even before they met; both championed Islamic State.
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