Originally from San Diego, California, McCain converted to Islam in 2004, and traveled to Syria by way of Turkey in early 2014.

[7] At the time of McCain's death, there were reportedly dozens more Americans fighting in Syria for Islamic militant groups.

[8] McCain attended the same high school as Troy Kastigar, who also died as an Islamic Jihadist, in 2009 in Somalia.

[10] McCain had a criminal record with minor charges including traffic violations, disorderly conduct, and providing false names to police officers.

[1] McCain was killed in fights with the Free Syrian Army in the weekend of August 23/24, 2014, and his body was found with $800 in cash and a US passport.