Gunman in Texas Shooting Was F.B.I. Suspect in Jihad Inquiry

GARLAND, Tex. — One was an extrovert drawn to basketball as well as to Islam, who had been identified by the F.B.I. as a jihadist terrorism suspect and was once a regular at Friday Prayer at a mosque near his Phoenix apartment. The other was more quiet, ran a carpet cleaning business in Phoenix and often prayed at the same mosque, sometimes accompanied by his young son.

It is still not entirely clear what led the two men — Elton Simpson, 30, and Nadir Hamid Soofi, 34, who lived in the same apartment complex in Phoenix — to come to this Dallas suburb and open fire Sundayoutside a gathering that showcased artwork and cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

The shootout — during which Mr. Simpson and Mr. Soofi, dressed in body armor, fired assault rifles at police officers — left both of them dead.

 

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/us/garland-texas-shooting-muhammad-cartoons.html?_r=1