Coworkers say alleged San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook brought wife back from Saudi Arabia

A photo of alleged San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook — (Image credit: Twitter/@Passatino)

Syed Farook, the man police say killed 14 people and wounded 17 at a San Bernardino public health department holiday party on Wednesday, was an observant Muslim who rarely talked about religion at work and didn't appear to have any grudges, coworkers tell the Los Angeles Times. A county health inspector, Farook attended Wednesday's party but left shortly before the mass shooting began, they said. Two colleagues, Christian Nwadike and Patrick Baccari, were in the bathroom when the shooting started, and expressed shock that Farook was being blamed for the attack, describing him as quiet but well-liked.

They told the Times that Farook, 28, had recently returned from Saudi Arabia with a wife he had met online. The couple had a new baby and seemed to be "living the American dream," said Baccari, who said he shared a cubicle with Farook. Police say that Tashfeen Malik, 27, was killed along with Farook in a confrontation with police, each with a pistol and assault rifle, and they described Malik as either Farook's wife or fiancée. Farouk was born and raised in the U.S., according to San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan.

At a news conference on Wednesday night, Farhan Khan, who says he is married to one of Farook's sisters, expressed on behalf of the family "how sad they are for what happened," and said he is "in shock myself." Khan said he last saw his brother-in-law about a week and a half ago, and is as confused as everyone else: "I have no idea why would he do that. Why would he do something like this. I have absolutely no idea."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.