One of the two gunmen who opened fire at a contest involving cartoon drawings of the Prophet Muhammad was previously under investigation by the FBI, the Wall Street Journal reports.

In fact, Elton Simpson was convicted of lying to the FBI after prosecutors alleged he planned to join Islamic militant groups in Africa.

According to the FBI, an informant recorded conversations between Simpson and several associates in 2009 about his desire to join Islamic militant groups.

“It’s time to go to Somalia, brother,” he said in one taped conversation with associates, in May 2009, according to the filings. “We gonna make it to the battlefield,” he added. “Its time to roll.”

Both shooters were killed.

Authorities identified the other alleged shooter as Nadir Soofi.