The FBI appealed Tuesday for the public’s help in its continuing investigation of the San Bernardino attack in which the shooters’ whereabouts are unknown for 18 minutes following last month’s assault that left 14 dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Los Angeles FBI chief David Bowdich said investigators have not been able to account for Syed Farook and wife Tashfeen Malik between 12:59 p.m., and 1:17 p.m., on Dec. 2, just more than two hours after the couple opened fire on a holiday party gathering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bowdich said investigators were specifically interested in obtaining any photographic or other electronic evidence that could pinpoint their locations during the brief window of time shortly before their trail was picked up by authorities, prompting a pursuit that ended in the couple’s death later that afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Investigators still believe that the attack was inspired by radical terrorist ideology rather than directed by a specific group abroad, but Bowdich said there is a need to be “absolutely certain” of the activities of both before they were killed in a shootout with police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bowdich referred Tuesday to a timeline beginning at 8:37 a.m., when Farook left his home to join work\u00a0colleagues at a meeting that was to culminate in a holiday gathering. He arrived at the meeting 10 minutes later, only to leave at 10:37 a.m. Investigators believe he returned with his wife to launch the attack at 10:56 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last month, the man accused of purchasing two of the guns used in the rampage was ordered to remain in federal custody. Enrique Marquez, 24, also is accused of plotting at least two other assaults with Farook in 2011 and 2012 that were not carried out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n