As federal authorities attempt to piece together the circumstances surrounding last week's terrorist attack in San Bernardino, their far-flung investigation has taken them as far away as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. But they have also returned, again and again, to a much closer source of clues: The house next door to the boyhood home of killer Syed Farook. Their efforts there are focused on a bespectacled Walmart employee, Enrique Marquez, and his purchase of a pair of rifles used in the attack that claimed 14 lives.
Marquez, who is cooperating with authorities, has acknowledged that he bought the two AR-15s for Farook several years ago and transferred them to Farook shortly thereafter but did not report the transfer of ownership, two law enforcement officials said Tuesday. Such transactions could be a violation of California law, the officials said.
Authorities initially said they did not believe Marquez had any involvement in the San Bernardino shooting plot carried out by Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, law enforcement officials said. But his role is continuing to be evaluated as he cooperates with investigators and they assess his information, officials said. Marquez, 24, has not been arrested. FBI Assistant Director David Bowdich was tight-lipped when asked about his status in the investigation at a news conference earlier this week. "I'm not prepared to discuss Mr. Marquez at this point," Bowdich said.
Home raided, job terminated
