Marquez allegedly purchased for Farook the two assault rifles the couple used to kill 14 people in San Bernardino, a government affidavit says. Early on the day after the shooting, he called 911 and said: “My neighbour”. In addition to the terrorism charge, Marquez faces a count of lying on gun purchase forms to hide that he was really buying them for Farook, and one of defrauding the immigration system by entering into a sham marriage with a Russian immigrant.
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Killed in the December 2 shooting were: Shannon Johnson, 45, of Los Angeles, 45; Tin Nguyen, 31, of Santa Ana; Sierra Clayborn, 27, of Moreno Valley; Yvette Velasco, 27, of Fontana; Aurora Godoy, 26, of San Jacinto; Damian Meins, 58, of Riverside; Robert Adams, 40, of Yucaipa; Isaac Amanios, 60, of Fontana; Bennetta Bet-Badal, 46, of Rialto; Harry Bowman, 46, of Upland; Juan Espinoza, 50, of Highland; Larry Kaufman, 42, of Rialto; Nicholas Thalasinos, 52, of Colton; and Michael Wetzel, 37, of Lake Arrowhead.
– 2011-2012 – Farook and Marquez plot attacks on Riverside Community College and state Highway 91. So Marquez is allegedly the unknown individual Farook had plotted with three years ago.
In the freeway attack plan, the two identified a stretch of eastbound state Route 91 where traffic is usually badly congested in the afternoon and there are no nearby exits for motorists to flee. The criminal complaint also stated that over the next few years, Farook provided Marquez with radical Islamic materials, and by 2011, Marquez spent most of his time at Farook’s residence listening to lectures and watching videos involving extremist content. He was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric ward.
Officials have been investigating the incident as a terror attack.
Marquez, 24 was charged Thursday with conspiring with Farook to provide material support to terrorism, making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of firearms, and immigration fraud, according to a statement from the Department of Justice. The legal pairing created a family tie between Marquez and Farook – Marquez became a brother-in-law to Farook’s brother, Syed Raheel Farook, and gave Marquez and his friend a common sister-in-law.
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. “Marquez stated that he planned to shoot into the stopped vehicles from his position on the hills”.
Marquez was picked to buy weapons because they feared Farook’s Middle Eastern appearance – his parents were born in Pakistan – might arouse suspicion. Marquez bought a DPMS model A-15 rifle in February the next year for a similar price.
The FBI has said Farook and Malik, 29, were radicalized before they met online in 2013, but the court documents show Farook had considered violent plots much earlier.
“Mr. Marquez conspired with Mr. Farook to commit vicious attacks, as set forth in today’s charges”, said U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker.
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As part of the plan, Marquez bought two assault rifles – in November 2011 and February 2012. The call indicates the apparently distraught Marquez was also considering suicide.
