The neighbor of the San Bernardino terrorists reportedly bought two AR-15s for them, and then, to avoid talking to the police, he checked himself into a mental hospital.
Here what the Associated Press reported: (emphasis bolded)
The FBI would not say what it was looking for, but a neighbor said an old friend of Farook’s lives there. More than three years ago, that person bought the two assault rifles later used in the shooting, but authorities haven’t been able to talk to him because he checked himself into a mental hospital after the attack, said a law enforcement official who was not allowed to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The neighbor has been identified as Enrique Marquez, who is described by the UK Daily Mail as a “baby-faced ‘nerd'” who was “quiet,” “very shy,” and a “weirdo.” Marquez and Syed Farook have been close friends since an early age, although they had reportedly grown more distant.
Here are some pictures of Marquez, via Twitchy:
This creep #EnriqueMarquez bought assault-style arms for #SyedFarook & #TashfeenMalik https://t.co/tRsSt7Auzp pic.twitter.com/U6L85cgbFC
— BL_Abba (@BL_Abba) December 6, 2015
#EnriqueMarquez got the sads after #SyedFarook & #TashfeenMalik‘s massacre https://t.co/tRsSt7Auzp pic.twitter.com/LbF3Jr2aNJ
— BL_Abba (@BL_Abba) December 6, 2015
The Daily Mail reports that the guns were bought three years ago. Marquez is not considered a suspect in the shooting and is not believed to have any prior knowledge about the terrorist attack, but the police wanted to talk to him to find out more information about Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik. The police have reportedly interviewed Marquez, although they have not released any details about it yet. The FBI has also seized numerous items from Marquez’s home and confirmed that Marquez bought the AR-15 rifles.
“More than three years ago, that person bought the two assault rifles later used in the shooting, but authorities haven’t been able to talk to him because he checked himself into a mental hospital after the attack …”
AP
Marquez buying the rifles for the terrorists could very well be considered as straw-purchasing, which is illegal under federal law.