What Were San Bernardino Shooters Doing During 18-Minute Gap?

The FBI on Tuesday appealed for the public’s help in closing an 18-minute gap in the timeline of the San Bernardino mass shooting that killed 14 people on December 2.

Farook and Malik spent about four hours driving around San Bernardino and Redlands in a black Ford Expedition, rented from the Redlands Enterprise Rent-A-Car, up to the moment they were killed.

He said investigators have been unable to determine where the couple was between 12:59 p.m. and 1:17 p.m. “It may not be an important fact, but until we close that gap we don’t know”.

He said it was possible that the couple during those 18 minutes may have stopped at a storage facility or had contact with someone.

“There’s no rhyme or reason that we can make for it yet, however, again, that 18 minutes is critical, “Bowdich said”. There are no indications the massacre of 14 people at a meeting at the Inland Regional Center was directed by anyone overseas, but it was an inspired attack, he said.

Bowdich said Farook and Malik then visited Seccombe Lake at 11:45 a.m.

Bowdich said authorities have carried out 29 search warrants, conducted 550 interviews and scoured social media to piece together a timeline of the couple’s whereabouts after the attack. Through a variety of techniques – including traffic cameras, surveillance cameras and witness statements – investigators said they’ve accounted for most of Malik and Farook’s travels.

The FBI says federal and local law enforcement officials will hold a press conference at 12 p.m. Tuesday.

The duo allegedly plotted to detonate pipe bombs in the cafeteria of Riverside City College, shooting people as they fled, and to open fire on drivers on the 91 Freeway during rush hour.

San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said so far the cost to investigate this case has been over $4 million, which includes overtime costs and paying those off work due to the massacre.