All-American kid turned radical Chattanooga killer?
Authorities combing killer’s home, computer, social media accounts and talking to friends and relatives for clues
WASHINGTON: Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez wrestled in school, studied electrical engineering in college and practiced mixed martial arts. And, said in a recent blog life was a “prison”.
Authorities are now combing his home, his computer, social media accounts and posts and talking to friends and relatives for clues to why he killed four US marines on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Abdulazeez drove up to a military recruiting centre in Chattanooga, Tennessee and opened fire, shooting up its windows and glass door at the entrance.
He then sped away to another military recruiting facility seven miles away and started shooting, killing four US marines this time. He was shot dead by police officers in pursuit.
Security at military facilities and federal buildings has been since beefed up, the department of homeland security said, “out of an abundance of caution”.
Authorities are investigating the shooting as a case of terrorism, but have not yet said if and how he was involved with any group, or inspired — as have been some ‘lone-wolf ’ attackers.
Abdulazeez was not on the FBI’s terror watch list. His father was, some years ago, but he had been taken off it since. Authorities had nothing more on the son and the father.
Abdulazeez’s only run-in with the law was an arrest last April for driving under the influence of alcohol. He had probably also used drugs. He was released on a bond of $2,000.
Neighbours, former schoolmates and coaches described Aubulazeez as a regular “all-American kid” who wrestled in school and practiced mixed martial arts.
He would break practice to pray, his coaches have said, but showed no signs of radicalisation. His friends found him incapable of violence, and neighbours trusted him.
Abdulazeez was bor n in Kuwait to Jordanian parents. The family came to the US when he was still very young, and stayed on becoming naturalised American citizens. Just days before the attacks he started blogging about his views on his religion, Islam. His first post was titled, “A Prison Called Dunya” — basically life as a prison.