Gunmen at Texas Islam caricature event were from Phoenix

Police officers address attendees at the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest after they are prevented from leaving when shots were fired at the exhibit in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

A police officer seeks witnesses to the shooting outside of the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

Police officers address attendees at the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest after they are prevented from leaving after shots were fired at the exhibit in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

A police officer prevents an attendee from leaving the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest after shots were fired outside the venue in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

Police officers stand guard at an entrance as attendees are prevented from leaving the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest after shots were fired outside the venue in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

A police officer prevents attendees from leaving the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest after shots were fired outside the venue in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

A police officer directs the evacuation of attendees of the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest, after a shooting outside the Curtis Culwell Center where the event was held in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunman who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad in Garland, Texas, near Dallas, were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing Garland police. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

Police officers direct the evacuation of attendees of the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative after a shooting outside the Curtis Culwell Center where the event was held in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

Police officers stand near a school bus used to evacuate attendees of the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative after a shooting outside the Curtis Culwell Center where the event was held in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

A police officer stands near a vehicle after a shooting outside the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. Two gunmen who opened fire on Sunday at the anti-Islam art exhibit near Dallas featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammad were themselves shot dead at the scene, a local CBS television affiliate and other local media reported, citing police. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

Police officers block an intersection near the Curtis Culwell Center after a shooting outside the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest, sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative which was being held at the facility in Garland, Texas May 3, 2015. (REUTERS/Mike Stone)

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REUTERS

May 4, 2015 - 2:56 pm

Two men who were shot and killed outside a cartoon exhibit of the Prophet Mohammed in Garland, TX, lived in Phoenix, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed, and one of their neighbors vividly recalled their attempts to convert him to Islam.

The suspects were killed after they opened fire outside the controversial art exhibit Sunday night, wounding a security guard but injuring no one else.

A federal law enforcement official identified one of the suspects in the shooting as Elton Simpson of Phoenix.

An indictment out of U.S. District Court of Arizona dated Jan. 13, 2010, said Simpson lied to the FBI about discussing travel plans to Somalia for the “purpose of engaging in violent jihad.” He was contacted as part of an investigation into international and domestic terrorism.

The FBI confirmed the suspects lived in the Autumn Ridge Apartments near 19th Avenue and Thunderbird Road. FBI agents and Phoenix police served a search warrant and entered the apartments to gather evidence.

Neighbors at the Autumn Ridge Apartments said a man and his brother lived in the apartment that was being searched.

“They were really into the Muslim thing,” neighbor Craig Gibbons said without providing any further identification of the suspects. “They would talk to you for a couple hours about (the religion). But they were nice.”

Gibbons said he talked with them about being Muslim and they would bring over reading material about Muslims in an effort to convert him.

John Iannarelli, FBI special agent, on Monday morning said the FBI knows little about the suspects, but that information based on the identities of the people there and their vehicle registration revealed they lived in Phoenix.

A news conference has been called for 8 a.m. MST by Garland police in Texas.

The shooting began outside the controversial art exhibit hosted by the New York-based American Freedom Defense Initiative that would award $10,000 for the best cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The shooting started just as the contest was concluding.

Police said the gunmen drove up to the suburban Dallas venue and shot the security guard.

Police who were on stand-by returned fire and killed both suspects.

The group hosting the event is considered anti-Muslim, but they claimed the contest was about protecting freedom of speech.

Iannarelli said FBI agents and Phoenix police breeched the apartment door to allow a robot in to secure the area. Several residents in nearby units were evacuated, but were later allowed to return to their apartments.

Iannarelli said no other suspects were found in the Phoenix apartment and that FBI agents would be looking for evidence. The investigation is being headed by the FBI in Dallas, Iannarelli said.

No other information was available.