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Mosque attack and charges
A 17-year-old Winston-Salem girl, Sarah Lindsey Santiago, was arrested last week and indicted as an adult by a grand jury Monday on three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy in connection with the May 18, 2026, attack on the Clairemont mosque at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
“indicted as an adult by a grand jury Monday on three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy”
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill said Santiago was one of three people watching the livestream as the two suspects carried out the shooting, and he said she recorded the livestream and published the shooters’ manifesto.
O’Neill said the two suspects, identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, opened fire at the Clairemont mosque, killing three men, including mosque security guard Amin Abdullah, 51, and congregation members Nadir Awad, 57, and Mansour Kaziha, 78.
ABC News reported that Santiago was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and it quoted O’Neill describing the plan as one to kill as many people possible and to have the carnage recorded and disseminated out.
The investigation is ongoing, and FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis said, "Failure to do so is not only irresponsible, but it can also be a crime."
Prosecutor, defense, and law
At a Monday news conference, O’Neill said, "The law in North Carolina is clear – a person may be guilty of a crime, although he or she personally does not do any of the acts necessary to constitute the crime," explaining why Santiago could be charged even though she was not in California at the time of the attack.
ABC News quoted Santiago’s attorney, Alan Doorasamy, saying, "this matter is sub judice and at this time I can confirm that my client is innocent of all these charges."
O’Neill also described the case as tied to livestreaming and dissemination, saying Santiago was allegedly communicating with the suspects on Signal leading up to the attack and was among three people who watched the livestream.
NBC 7 San Diego reported that O’Neill said law enforcement "didn’t know what she was capable of" and arrested her a week prior to a grand jury indictment because prosecutors moved before school year and holy days.
CNN added that prosecutors alleged Santiago aided and abetted the murders of Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad and Mansour Kaziha by "agreeing and planning prior to the attack" to livestream it and publicly distribute the recording and release a manifesto.
Accountability and next steps
Authorities said the Islamic Center of San Diego had 140 children playing in the back when gunfire erupted, and O’Neill said the security guard Amin Abdullah initiated a lockdown and engaged the suspects as they carried out the attack.
“Santiago is expected to appear in a North Carolina court Sept. 21”
NBC 7 San Diego reported O’Neill said the shooters’ plan was to commit mass murders not only at the mosque but to follow up at a local Jewish temple and a local high school, and it said the indictment identifies the synagogue as being less than 1.5 miles away just off Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.
FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News said the indictment accused Santiago of watching and recording the live stream, sending that information out to the public, and publishing the manifesto, and it quoted O’Neill: "The law in North Carolina is clear. The person who aids and abets another to commit a crime is guilty of that crime."
NBC 7 San Diego reported that Santiago is expected to appear in a North Carolina court Sept. 21, and it said she will be tried as an adult due to the terrorism-related nature of the crime.
In a statement, the San Diego County DA’s Office said, "The investigation into the horrific murders of three innocent people targeting the Islamic Center of San Diego includes identifying anyone who has potential criminal liability," and it added it was "grateful for the efforts by DA Jim O'Neill and his office."