In partnership with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in San Diego and San Diego Police detectives, the FBI Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force Greensboro Resident Agency and the Winston-Salem Police Department, with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, investigated and presented their case against a 17-year-old female suspected of aiding the shooters of the Islamic Center of San Diego from across the country to the Forsyth County Attorney’s Office in North Carolina. A grand jury indicted her on the following: three counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily, FBI San Diego Field Office:
“Today’s indictment sends a clear message: physical distance from an attack does not place someone beyond accountability for the role they allegedly played in making it happen. In today’s threat environment, individuals may believe they can encourage or facilitate acts of violence from hundreds of miles away without facing consequences. This case demonstrates that law enforcement will aggressively investigate those connections and pursue accountability wherever the evidence leads, including when juveniles are involved. It should serve as a warning that supporting an attack from afar can still carry serious consequences.
“Together with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in San Diego, investigators have conducted more than 100 interviews, executed more than 30 search warrants and reviewed more than four million messages as we continue working to bring justice to the victims and their families and protect the communities we serve.”
Police Chief Scott Wahl, San Diego Police Department:
“Since this horrific incident unfolded, our teams have worked diligently alongside the FBI to leave no stone unturned in this case. This arrest is a meaningful step toward justice for the three irreplaceable lives that were lost that day. We stand committed to exhausting every lead to hold anyone who may have played a role in the shooting accountable.”
The investigation into the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego reflects extensive collaboration among the San Diego Police Department, the FBI San Diego Field Office, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in San Diego, FBI field offices across the country, including the FBI Charlotte Field Office, and the Winston-Salem Police Department, with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is still considered active, and investigators will continue following the evidence to bring justice to the victims and their families.
District Attorney James R. O’Neill, Forsyth County:
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill announced a North Carolina Grand Jury indicted a 17-year-old female as an adult for the following state charges: Three Counts of First-Degree Murder, One Count of Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder.
According to the indictment returned on August 31, 2026, Santiago with malice and aforethought did aid and abet Caleb Vazquez and Cain Clark in the killing and murder of three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego on May 18, 2026, by agreeing and planning prior to the attack to: live stream the attacks, disseminate the recording publicly and then release the manifesto authored by attackers to justify the attack.
The FBI Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force Greensboro Resident Agency, the Winston-Salem Police Department, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in San Diego and San Diego Police Department, with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, are investigating the case.
A copy of the indictment can be found online https://www.nccourts.gov/ecourts.