Newly released search warrants give the clearest indication yet that the New Zealand attacks on mosques inspired a San Diego man to open fire during a Passover service at a California synagogue in April, killing one woman and injuring three others.
The documents released Wednesday show that suspect John T. Earnest expressed regret in a text message that he missed seeing the livestream video of the New Zealand killings in March and praised that shooter’s writings as “spot on with everything.”
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Days later, Earnest set fire to a mosque and made plans for the synagogue attack, the documents said.
A California state judge ordered the 338 pages unsealed at the request of five news organizations, including The Associated Press.
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Earnest has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges.