'Devout' Muslim US citizen and his wife are identified as heavily-armed suspects that killed at least 14 people
A Muslim U.S. citizen and his wife burst into his office holiday party with assault rifles and tactical clothing, massacred 14 and injured 17 before they were both shot dead in a dramatic police shootout in suburban San Bernardino.
Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, who is U.S.-born, was at the party for local health officials but reportedly left angry before returning heavily armed with his wife Tashfeen Malik, 27, and opening fire at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino on Wednesday morning.
Farook, an environmental specialist with the county health department, has been described as a 'devout' Muslim and is said to have traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier this year and returned with a wife.
Co-worker Patrick Baccari says Farook was gone for about a month in the spring. When he returned, word got around Farook had been married, and the woman he described as a pharmacist joined him shortly afterward. A baby followed.
Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, who is U.S.-born, was at the party for local health officials but reportedly left angry before returning heavily armed with his wife Tashfeen Malik, 27, and opening fire at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino on Wednesday morning.
Farook, an environmental specialist with the county health department, has been described as a 'devout' Muslim and is said to have traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier this year and returned with a wife.
Co-worker Patrick Baccari says Farook was gone for about a month in the spring. When he returned, word got around Farook had been married, and the woman he described as a pharmacist joined him shortly afterward. A baby followed.
Baccari says the reserved Farook showed no signs of unusual behavior, although he grew out his beard several months ago.
He said he had been sitting at the same table as Farook at the party on Wednesday morning, but his co-worker suddenly disappeared, leaving his coat behind on his chair.
Baccari said he had stepped into the bathroom when the shooting started and suffered minor wounds from shrapnel slicing through the wall.
San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan confirmed that Farook had attended the party, but left 'angry' before returning heavily armed with Malik.
He said he had been sitting at the same table as Farook at the party on Wednesday morning, but his co-worker suddenly disappeared, leaving his coat behind on his chair.
Baccari said he had stepped into the bathroom when the shooting started and suffered minor wounds from shrapnel slicing through the wall.
San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan confirmed that Farook had attended the party, but left 'angry' before returning heavily armed with Malik.
NBCLA reported the two were armed with .233 caliber assault rifles and semi-automatic handguns. Burguan said a motive for the shooting is not yet known, but said that there did seem to be 'some degree of planning involved' in the attack.
Fox News reporter Joel Waldman reported that both suspects were possibly wearing GoPro cameras and 'wore chest armor with magazine attached' when they opened fire.
Federal officials have not ruled out terrorism as a motive, but authorities are confident the pair are the suspects involved in the mass shooting. Burguan added Farook and Malik were in a relationship, but did not confirm if they were married or engaged.
The Los Angeles Times reported Farook had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he married a woman he had met online. Colleagues told the Times that Farook was a devout Muslim, but rarely discussed religion at work.
Federal officials have not ruled out terrorism as a motive, but authorities are confident the pair are the suspects involved in the mass shooting. Burguan added Farook and Malik were in a relationship, but did not confirm if they were married or engaged.
The Los Angeles Times reported Farook had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he married a woman he had met online. Colleagues told the Times that Farook was a devout Muslim, but rarely discussed religion at work.
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