San Bernardino shooting suspect traveled to Saudi Arabia, was married, appeared to be living 'American Dream,' co-workers say
As the holiday gathering got underway Wednesday morning, Syed Farook joined dozens of his colleagues from San Bernardino County’s Public Health Department. Farook seemed quiet during the early hours of the event, then vanished just as a group photo was about to be taken.
Shorty afterward, gunfire erupted at the Inland Regional Center where the employees filled a conference room. Within hours, law enforcement sources identified a man named Syed Farook as a suspect in the massacre and said he was shot to death in a gun battle with officers.
Police officials released little information about the suspects, including where they worked. And the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing, did not provide any details about the suspect other than his name.
Co-workers told The Times that they were shocked to hear Farook’s name linked to the shooting. Two health department employees who were in the bathroom when the bullets began to fly said Farook was quiet and polite, with no obvious grudges.
They said Farook had traveled to Saudi Arabia and returned with a new wife he met online. The couple had a baby and appeared to be “living the American dream,” said Patrick Baccari, a food inspector who shared a cubicle with Farook.
Baccari and Christian Nwadike said Farook, who worked with them as a health inspector for about three years, rarely started a conversation. But the tall, thin, young man with a full beard was well-liked and spent much of his time out in the field.
They and other colleagues said Farook was a devout Muslim, but rarely discussed religion at work.
“He never struck me as a fanatic, he never struck me as su ious,” said Griselda Reisinger, who worked with Farook before leaving the agency in May.
Reisinger said she heard that the office had recently held a baby shower for Farook and that he had taken paternity leave.
Wednesday night, Farhan Khan, who said he was a brother-in-law of Farook, said he had known Farook for much of his life and last saw him a week ago.
“I cannot express how sad I am,” he said during a brief statement at an Islamic center in Anaheim. “I have no idea why he would do that…. I am in shock that something like this would happen. … My condolences to the people who lost their life.”
Baccari said he was about to dry his hands in the bathroom when bullets ripped into the towel dispenser, sending shrapnel into his face and blood spilling into his eyes. The rounds pocked the walls as he dove for cover onto the floor. He and another man pushed the door closed with their legs and waited for police arrive.
Later, Baccari remembered his co-worker disappearing before the photo session.
“Where’s Syed?” he recalled someone asking.
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Rumpy thinking his tired out "rent free" is edgy.
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