The gunmen who carried out the mass shooting in San Bernardino yesterday, which killed 14 and severely injured 17, have been identified as a married couple.
Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and wife Tashfeen Malik, 27, were shot dead by police after they stormed a workplace Christmas party armed with heavy artillery.
It has been revealed that the couple share a six-month-old daughter, whom they dropped off before beginning their killing spree.
Following their deaths, the police have released limited information regarding their identities and motives.
It is believed that Farook worked as an environmental health specialist for over five years in the country of San Bernardino. His wife, Malik, he met in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking about the incident, government spokespersons noted that the attack was mostly likely premeditated due to the amount of preparation the couple displayed, despite reports that the attack was prompted by Farook’s “angry reception” at the Christmas party.
“With my experience with other mass shootings, there are indicators that this was well planned out,” said Meredith Davis, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, “It was to be violent in nature.”
“They were in tactical gear, I don’t know if they had ballistic protection… And had several magazines full of ammunition fashioned to their bodies. So they were ready for a gunfight should that occur,” she told NBC.
Farook’s brother-in-law, Farhan Khan, has also spoken out about the attack, saying that he had not had contact with Farook for over a week and that he has no idea as to Farook’s motives.
“I have no idea why he’d do it,” he said. “Why would he do it? Why would he do something like this?
“I’m in shock myself. I am a normal person.”
