WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Analysis of gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez’s electronic devices showed that in 2013 he searched for videos by top American al-Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a US drone strike in 2011, US counter-terrorism officials told ABC News.
The gunman’s family said Abdulazeez had been suicidal and suffered from depression and drug use. He was also looking for a way to absolve his “sins” and become a martyr, according to media reports.
US authorities previously stated Abdulazeez was not listed on the US terrorism database.
However, several years ago his father was probed for possible links to a terrorist organization.
Authorities are conducting the shooting investigation as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
