We're hearing reaction from local religious leaders on the death of the man believed to have set off a pipe bomb outside of the Islamic Center almost a year ago.
Christian and Muslim leaders told us the news of the death of 47-year-old Sandlin Matthews Smith came as a relief. Smith was killed by Oklahoma State Troopers and FBI agents from the Oklahoma City offices on Wednesday afternoon in the Glass Mountain State Park, 120 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. Smith had several weapons on him.
Also at the Islamic Center today, Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford. "This community clearly stood up, opposed to any type of hate of that sort," says Sheriff Rutherford. "Lone wolves like this, those sorts of haters; we may never win them over."
Other leaders made it clear that the city shouldn't be recognized for being the place of a hate act like this one, but rather the place where community members pulled together.
FBI agents here in Jacksonville were able to identify Smith after a witness came forward last week. Smith had apparently bragged about the bombing to a dozen or so acquaintances. With that new piece of information and evidence they had already acquired they were able to get an arrest warrant.
Smith was from St. Johns County. He lived in a couple of different homes. Agents checked those and found explosive materials in one of them.
The FBI also had a third video they never released. It was of a dark Toyota Tundra with a work box driving to the Islamic Center, then driving back shortly after the explosion. When asked why they didn't release that video to the public, FBI Field Officer James Casey said it was because they weren't sure if it was in fact the suspect's vehicle. They also used that to verify if someone was giving them false information. Several people had called in claiming they bombed the mosque. Agents would ask them what they were driving and chances are the vehicle didn't match what they were looking for.
Smith would have been charged with damaging a religious property, obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs, possession and transfer of a destructive device, possessions of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
No motive has been determined, though investigators who spoke with some of his acquaintances say Smith was a bigot.
There was a $25,000 reward for any evidence that would lead to an arrest in the search for the mosque bomber, so far no one's claimed it.
Imam Joe Bradford of the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida delivered the following statement this afternoon.
- The membership and constituents of the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida join all citizens of goodwill in Jacksonville to express their relief that any threat posed by the person suspected in the bombing of the Islamic Center has ceased as well convey their regret that any lives were lost. We commend the efforts of our law enforcement officials, specifically the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. We appreciate the diligence with which they have acted in order to bring this matter to a close. We thank members of our congregation, the broader interfaith community, and all people of conscience who have been steadfast in their support of the Islamic Center throughout this ordeal.
Even in the face of great challenges, the fraternal spirit of our city shines through. Jacksonville will always be remembered more for the graciousness of our goodly neighbors than the acts of any one individual. Many times when speaking about faith communities in Jacksonville and across the nation, focus is concentrated on exceptions rather than the norms. Congregations of diverse backgrounds are engaging in dialogue and interacting at many levels; the Islamic Center welcomes our partners in these initiatives here in and around the city and looks forward to continuing in that tradition. Sometime it takes a negative action to draw our attention to do something positive. While we in all faith communities are relieved at the close of this chapter, we are looking forward to applying the positive lessons from this incident to bettering the lives of our community and our city.
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