Friend Of San Bernardino Shooter Is Arrested

The remains of a SUV involved in the Wednesdays attack is shown in San Bernardino,

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

The friend of one of the San Bernardino shooters was arrested Thursday in connection to the attack that killed 14 people, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Via facebook.com

Enrique Marquez, 24, purchased the two assault rifles that his friend and former neighbor, Syed Rizwan Farook, used along with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, to carry out the Dec. 2 terror attack.

FBI officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the nature of the charges Marquez faces.

Shortly after the shooting, Marquez — who was the next-door neighbor Farook and his wife in Riverside before the couple moved to Redlands — posted a poorly written and ambiguous message to Facebook that stated: "I'm. Very sorry sguys. It was a pleasure."

Marquez also quickly checked into a local mental health facility. Days later, federal investigators raided his home, tore apart his garage door with blowtorches, and questioned family members for hours.

Tashfeen Malik, (left), and Syed Farook at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Reuters

Marquez had been cooperating with the San Bernardino investigation, but officials had hinted that his arrest was imminent.

Before San Bernardino, Marquez allegedly plotted a 2012 attack with Farook that was never carried out because, officials say, the two men "got cold feet."

A neighbor said Farook and Marquez appeared to have a falling out around the same time, noting that the pair would ignore each other despite being feet apart.

It was apparently a crack in a lifelong friendship. Neighbors told BuzzFeed News that Marquez and Farook grew up next to each other in Riverside, their homes separated by a low brick wall. Both enjoyed taking cars apart and fixing them.

Weapons confiscated from the attack in San Bernardino.

Reuters

In November 2014, Marquez married Mariya Chernykh, whose sister, Tatiana, is married to Syed Raheel Farook, brother of Syed Rizwan Farook, the New York Times reported.

Marquez converted to Islam about five years ago after attending the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco, the Times added. After his attendance started to wane, Marquez offered little explanation when questioned by Azmi Hasan, the facilities manager at the Islamic Society.

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