The FBI has described accused terrorism suspect Ismail Hamed, 18, of Fountain Hills as a “home-grown lone wolf.”

Michael DeLeon, FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Phoenix office, joined Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone at a press conference on Jan. 18 to discuss the case involving Hamed, who was shot by a Sheriff’s deputy sergeant in the parking lot of the District 7 Sheriff’s substation in Fountain Hills on Jan. 7.

DeLeon said Hamed was not previously known to the FBI and that such isolated suspects are now the most dangerous to national security.

Penzone said Hamed is an American-born citizen and there is no indication he had been in communication with anyone outside the country.

“These operators typically work alone and are currently the biggest threat to security,” DeLeon said. “Our success in dealing with them depends on strong partnerships among agencies and with citizens.”

An incident like this in a community like Fountain Hills is an indication of the scope of terrorism, but DeLeon said people should not live in fear, but empower themselves by learning what to look for in a radicalized individual.

Someone may isolate themselves and retreat from social interactions, they may be espousing a violent ideology, and they may be a youth, who are the easiest to radicalize, according to DeLeon. Unfortunately, these traits may be recognized easiest by those closest to the person, making it more difficult to report.

“We are calling on the community to be more proactive in reporting suspicious activity,” Penzone said.

DeLeon added to that by saying, “If you see something, say something. Most of us think of an unattended bag in a plane or train terminal (as a terrorist act), but there’s more. You need to notify officials when you notice a disturbing change in a family member, a friend, a colleague or a member of the community. If someone is espousing or leaning toward violent activities or if you notice a family member or someone that is becoming withdrawn or more isolated.”

“No information is too small or insignificant. We want to prevent acts of violence rather than investigate them.”

Security

Penzone raised questions concerning security related to the parking lot used by the MCSO District 7 substation at Fountain Hills Town Hall. Hamed is being held on state terrorism statutes following an incident in which he was shot by the deputy in that parking lot outside the substation.

Penzone said when a deputy sergeant went to the parking lot that evening, he was going to check the computer in his vehicle for information related to the 911 call Hamed was making at the time. When he went outside, the deputy did not know Hamed was in the parking lot, according to Penzone.

Hamed allegedly started throwing rocks at the deputy before aggressively advancing toward the deputy with a knife. The deputy had drawn his weapon and gave the suspect several commands to put the weapon down, according to Penzone. He said the two were only a few feet apart when the deputy discharged his weapon. Hamed has survived the gunshot wound.

Penzone said the openness of the parking lot adjacent to the street where anyone can walk through or hide themselves needs to be addressed. He did not say whether he has approached the town about this concern.

Town Manager Grady Miller said MCSO leadership has not raised a concern about the unsecured parking lot to town staff.

“The town recently signed the parking lot entrance and exits for law enforcement use only. It has been this way for nearly 15 years and being in a small suburban town, I don’t think it should be a problem,” Miller said in an email to The Times.

“We also know that the suspect was in our building prior to the incident outside, and deputies didn’t come out to meet with him at that time. Had they met him in the Town Hall lobby, there’s a good chance the shooting may have occurred inside Town Hall.”

Hamed is alleged to have made two calls to 911 asking to speak with a deputy at the Fountain Hills substation.

“He was being cryptic about why he needed to see a deputy,” Penzone said. However, it was comments to the 911 operator that Hamed allegedly made his radical ideology known and prompted state terrorism charges. It is unclear whether he said anything to the deputy in the parking lot. Penzone would not comment on the statements made to the operator.

Hamed was initially charged with assault on a police officer and assault with a deadly weapon.

Court records related to the case state that on or about Jan. 7, the day he was shot, Hamed “intentionally or knowingly, did provide advice, assistance, direction or management to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a terrorist organization…”

The court record also states that Hamed, on the same date, “intentionally or knowingly did engage in an act of terrorism.”

Prosecutors have since moved to have the court records in the case sealed.

A reluctance to respond to a number of questions posed by reporters at the press conference was a clear indication that officials want to keep a tight lid on what is going on with the investigation.

The case is now under the jurisdiction of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Nationally the JTTF includes 500 state and local agencies and 55 federal agencies. DeLeon, said there are 20 agencies locally involved with the JTTF including tribal, state and municipal agencies along with the Arizona Attorney General and Maricopa County Attorney.

DeLeon indicated there will be little to no new information related to the case released as long as the JTTF investigation continues.