Friend of San Bernardino shooter to face criminal charges

SAN BERNARDINO Federal authorities have charged Enrique Marquez, the longtime friend of San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook, with conspiring with Farook in 2011 and 2012 to commit crimes of terrorism. He wore handcuffs and eyeglasses, and swiveled in his chair a couple of times before the proceedings began.

The report states Marquez bought the two rifles so Farook or Malik would not have to be subject to a background check or be documented as the person who bought the weapons. He said the men specifically planned to toss pipe bombs into crowds of students in the cafeteria from the second floor, a spot that would allow them to get out for another phase of the attack.

Investigators have said the killers tried to cover their tracks by destroying emails, cellphones and other items at their home in Redlands.

The family of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the two men accused of carrying out the Boston Marathon bombing attack in 2013, faced similar difficulty finding a place to bury his body after the attack.

Marquez lived for many years with his family in a one-story beige house directly next to Farook.

The charges could be filed as early as Thursday, NBC News reported.

Enrique Marquez, friend of San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook, is likely to be charged for buying Farook rifles in 2012.

Marquez, 24, had checked himself into a Los Angeles psychiatric facility shortly after the shootings and he quickly became a key figure in the investigation of the shootings. Marquez turned himself in to a mental facility the day of the mass shooting.

According to the complaint, Marquez called 911 on December 3. Marquez’s link to the carnage in San Bernardino stunned his boss, Jerry Morgan, owner of Morgan’s Tavern in Riverside, Calif. “They can trace all the guns back to me”.

The FBI said Farook and Malik discussed martyrdom online before they even met and were supporters of ISIS. Still, he added, “I pray mercy for him, and we Muslims know God is merciful”. Police shot and killed them hours later.

They also had plans to attack a motorway during afternoon rush hour by dropping pipe bombs onto cars and shooting into cars and at law enforcement, the records said.

On Wednesday, FBI Director James Comey said there is no evidence that the couple posted publicly on social media about their commitment to jihad before Malik arrived in the United States in 2014 on a K-1, or fiancee visa.

Farook and his wife, Tafsheen Malik, killed 14 and injured 21 when they stormed the San Bernardino Regional Inland Center.

Farook would then move among the stopped vehicles, shooting motorists.

Marquez had been working as a security guard at Wal-Mart and was known for his shy and mild-manned demeanor.

Marquez was said to be a convert to Islam but was not a member of that mosque, Azmi Hasan said.

The FBI, which is treating the attack as terrorism, raided Marquez’s home late last week and questioned him for several days.