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An American citizen died over the weekend while fighting for ISIS, the terror group has confirmed.
Douglas McAuthur McCain, from San Diego, California, was one of three mujahedeen killed in a fire fight with anti-ISIS forces, the Free Syrian Army confirmed to NBC News.
The network confirmed his identity after viewing photos of his passport and body, but U.S. officials have yet to make an official confirmation.
NBC also spoke with family and friends of the 33-year-old accused terrorist, his aunt confirmed the death as well.
McCain has not been active on social media in recent months, but goes by the name "Duale ThaslaveofAllah" on Facebook.
He appeared to be a devout Muslim, and also an aspiring rapper. He is shown in pictures smoking hookah and performing on stage.
A cryptic exchange in February between McCain and a friend ended with them saying they would miss each other. Presumed dead, he has not been on the site since.
News of McCain's death comes only one week after a report that hundreds of U.S. citizens have joined the terror group responsible for the beheading of American journalist James Foley.
U.S. officials have also recently expressed grave concern over the possibility of Westerners training with ISIS and then returning to Europe and America as sleeper cells.
McCain did not come off to those who knew him as an extremist, and local authorities around the Twin Cities saw him as no more than a petty criminal.
Records show he was arrested in 1999 on a charge of disorderly conduct. A second arrest came in 2006 for obstruction charges.
"We would talk just a little bit about religion," Kevin Kohlin, who met McCain while the alleged terrorist was in Sweden about four years ago, told NBC. "He respected my Christianity."
Kohlin recalled that McCain loved to play basketball.
"He's a good dribbler, passer and great at taking care of the phase of the game when he got the ball," the Swede told NBC News. "He was like a really nice guy. He smiles a lot and brings a lot of good energy."
McCain's faith was never hidden, but it does not appear to have taken a fundamentalist turn until he moved to San Diego.
An AOL review of his Twitter account showed nothing out of the ordinary – taunting sports messages, tweets about going out and other routine things – until January 2, 2013, when he tweeted #FreeGaza.
He worked at a Somali restaurant called African Spice, according to NBC News.
"He was a normal guy, who was social, open-minded, like to smile always, and always wanted to be a good Muslim," a co-worker told the network.
Around May of last year, he tweeted "To all my Muslim out there stand strong we will soon be 1#oneummah#oneflag#oneleader In sha Allah."
The tweets only grew stronger in rhetoric from there.
On April 3, he retweeted a full English translation of a speech from an ISIS spokesperson.
McCain then traveled into Syria through Turkey, according to NBC News. Three people who met him in Istanbul told the network they ate Burger King and talked basketball.
"Ya Allah when it's my time to go have mercy on my soul have mercy on my bros," he wrote May 14.
"Your irrelevant opinion won't change Sharia," reads a tweet he retweeted.
He even appears to gripe about opposition to ISIS.
"It's funny to me how all these so call Muslim claim that they love Allah but always curse the one who try to implement his laws," reads a June 8 tweet.
"It takes a warrior to understand a warrior. Pray for ISIS," another of his retweets from June says.
"Those who are slaves to their own desires will never understand the reason why we give up comfort for a life of struggle," he retweeted on August 16.
The public may never know why McCain gave up life in America to die fighting against the West. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Douglas McAuthur McCain, from San Diego, California, was one of three mujahedeen killed in a fire fight with anti-ISIS forces, the Free Syrian Army confirmed to NBC News.
The network confirmed his identity after viewing photos of his passport and body, but U.S. officials have yet to make an official confirmation.
NBC also spoke with family and friends of the 33-year-old accused terrorist, his aunt confirmed the death as well.
McCain has not been active on social media in recent months, but goes by the name "Duale ThaslaveofAllah" on Facebook.
He appeared to be a devout Muslim, and also an aspiring rapper. He is shown in pictures smoking hookah and performing on stage.
A cryptic exchange in February between McCain and a friend ended with them saying they would miss each other. Presumed dead, he has not been on the site since.
News of McCain's death comes only one week after a report that hundreds of U.S. citizens have joined the terror group responsible for the beheading of American journalist James Foley.
U.S. officials have also recently expressed grave concern over the possibility of Westerners training with ISIS and then returning to Europe and America as sleeper cells.
McCain did not come off to those who knew him as an extremist, and local authorities around the Twin Cities saw him as no more than a petty criminal.
Records show he was arrested in 1999 on a charge of disorderly conduct. A second arrest came in 2006 for obstruction charges.
"We would talk just a little bit about religion," Kevin Kohlin, who met McCain while the alleged terrorist was in Sweden about four years ago, told NBC. "He respected my Christianity."
Kohlin recalled that McCain loved to play basketball.
"He's a good dribbler, passer and great at taking care of the phase of the game when he got the ball," the Swede told NBC News. "He was like a really nice guy. He smiles a lot and brings a lot of good energy."
McCain's faith was never hidden, but it does not appear to have taken a fundamentalist turn until he moved to San Diego.
An AOL review of his Twitter account showed nothing out of the ordinary – taunting sports messages, tweets about going out and other routine things – until January 2, 2013, when he tweeted #FreeGaza.
He worked at a Somali restaurant called African Spice, according to NBC News.
"He was a normal guy, who was social, open-minded, like to smile always, and always wanted to be a good Muslim," a co-worker told the network.
Around May of last year, he tweeted "To all my Muslim out there stand strong we will soon be 1#oneummah#oneflag#oneleader In sha Allah."
The tweets only grew stronger in rhetoric from there.
On April 3, he retweeted a full English translation of a speech from an ISIS spokesperson.
McCain then traveled into Syria through Turkey, according to NBC News. Three people who met him in Istanbul told the network they ate Burger King and talked basketball.
"Ya Allah when it's my time to go have mercy on my soul have mercy on my bros," he wrote May 14.
"Your irrelevant opinion won't change Sharia," reads a tweet he retweeted.
He even appears to gripe about opposition to ISIS.
"It's funny to me how all these so call Muslim claim that they love Allah but always curse the one who try to implement his laws," reads a June 8 tweet.
"It takes a warrior to understand a warrior. Pray for ISIS," another of his retweets from June says.
"Those who are slaves to their own desires will never understand the reason why we give up comfort for a life of struggle," he retweeted on August 16.
The public may never know why McCain gave up life in America to die fighting against the West. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
