CBS News: San Bernardino Shooting Suspect Pledged Allegiance To ISIS Online
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — FBI officials continued to analyze computer evidence Friday to determine the motive behind a shooting massacre that claimed the lives of 14 people and injured nearly two dozen others in San Benardino.
During a news conference around 11:30 a.m., Asst. FBI Regional Director David Bowdich explained federal officials are investigating this case as an act of terrorism.
Bowdich stated there was an incident reported at a theater the night before mass shooting. At this time, there is no evidence that has connected the two events.
"There are a number of pieces of evidence that have pushed us off the cliff to say we are now investigating terrorism," Bowdich said. "We are continuing to go down the path to learn what was the motivation for this attack because that will tell us a lot more."
According to Bowdich, investigators located two cell phones in a nearby trash can. Authorities believe the suspects attempted to destroy their digital fingerprints.
"I would say that this community is incredibly resilient," Bowdich added. "We stand with you. Do what you normally do. Do not let this cause mass hysteria."
Shooting suspect Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, has not been found on any terror watch lists.
However, CBS News has learned Farook was possibly radicalized prior to committing the senseless and violent act with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, as he was in contact with people overseas who may be linked to terrorism.
A federal law enforcement official also confirmed to CBS that Malik pledged her allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi using a Facebook alias and later deleted postings.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: San Bernardino Shooting
At this time, it remains unclear if Malik influenced her husband to plan the shooting attack.
Earlier this morning, members of the media were allowed to tour the Redlands home connected to the shooters. During a live interview with CBS News' David Begnaud, the landlord described Farook as a "nice, clean-cut young man who was kind of standoffish, quiet and timid."
A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed the scene was released on Thursday.
Farook's sister, Saira Khan, broke her silence during an exclusive interview with CBS News.
"I can never imagine my brother or my sister-in-law doing something like this," Khan said to Begnaud. "Especially because they were happily married. It's just mind boggling why they would do something like this."
Police said the couple came into the U.S. in July 2014. At the time, they were not married. Farook and Malik have since wed and had a 6-month-old baby girl while Malik remained on a Visa. Upon entering the country, Malik passed a homeland security counter terrorism screening.
Intelligence sources explained Farook, who was an American citizen employed as an inspector for the San Bernardino County Environmental Health Department, had traveled to Saudi Arabia to apparently attend the Hajj pilgrimage. The pair were reportedly looking at ISIS propaganda online.
There have also been reports of trouble within the family leading up to the attack. Farook's father threatened suicide in front of the family and his mother filed a restraining order, according to CBS News.
Authorities are now searching for the person who legally bought the assault rifles that were used in the shooting massacre.
"There is a person who purchased these guns and we know their location," said Bowdich. "[That] person is not under arrest yet."
According to San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon, all non-essential services will remain closed today out of respect for the victims.
A candlelight vigil will be held at 5 p.m., near the center of campus at University of California, Riverside, to honor alumni who were killed and wounded during the shooting.
Just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, gunfire erupted in a conference room at the Inland Regional Center, located in the 1300 block of South Waterman Avenue, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Farook and Malik carried in legally purchased semiautomatic weapons, along with handguns, and opened fire upon workers while the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health was holding a holiday banquet within the conference room of the building.
According to city officials, three explosive devices were located inside of the building.
Fourteen people died and 22 more were wounded.
The Coroner's Office has identified all of the deceased victims.
GALLERY: Victims Killed In Shooting Massacre
Hospital officials have not yet provided an additional update on the conditions of the injured victims at Loma Linda Medical University, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and St. Bernardine Medical Center.
Following the shooting massacre, a tip led authorities to a home located on Center Street in the city of Redlands.
City officials chased the dark-colored, bullet-ridden Ford SUV -- driven by Farook and Malik who were dressed in tactical clothing -- from the home throughout the area.
An officer-involved shooting subsequently led to the deaths of the couple.
During the standoff, 23 officers fired a total of 380 rounds at Farook and Malik. The couple fired back a total of 76 rifle rounds at officers on scene.
Two assault weapons, AR15 style rifles, and two pistols were located inside the SUV along with more than 1,000 caliber rounds.
"Cleary they were equipped and could have done another attack," explained Chief Jarrod Burguan. "We intercepted them before that happened."
A police officer and sheriff's deputy sustained non-life threatening injuries, officials said.
According to investigators, a third suspect was detained at the scene on an unrelated warrant.
A preliminary investigation has revealed Farook attended a meeting at the Inland Regional Center, but left abruptly left the building in an angry state before returning with his wife. Gunshots then rang out in the conference room.
President Barack Obama was briefed on the attack by his homeland security adviser and Gov. Jerry Brown was also condemned of the killings.
On Thursday morning, FBI and city officials explained significant evidence was seized from a home in the city of Redlands, which is believed to be linked to the shooter's mother and sister.
During a search of the residence, authorities located a large arsenal of explosive devices made from Christmas tree lights and radio-controlled toys, thousands of bullets and materials used to make bombs. Digital evidence, including thumb drives, were also recovered at the scene.
According to the FBI, the evidence is being sent to Washington, D.C., for further analysis.
Meanwhile, memorials for the 14 people who were killed in shooting massacre continues to grow. Several candlelight vigils were held Thursday night to honor the victims and their families.
Since learning of the attack, Pres. Obama has ordered for all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the shooting massacre.
The Inland Regional Center is a nonprofit agency that operates within a three-story facility and serves people with developmental disabilities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The agency employes nearly 700 people and serves more than 30,000 residents ranging in age from infants to seniors.
Officials continue to stress that there is no credible threat of danger to the community at this time.
The FBI has established a national hotline for the public to report any suspicious activity. Please call (800) 225-5324 and select option four.