YouTube attacker was ‘harsh critic’

SAN BRUNO, CA — Nasim Aghdam, the woman who wounded three people with gunfire at YouTube’s headquarters on April 3, seemed to have an active presence online.

Images and videos uploaded to Instagram and YouTube accounts connected to Aghdam (39), who is believed to have killed herself during the attack, contained political messages and fitness tips, but also featured some heavy criticism of YouTube.

Several of the social-media accounts–including Facebook and Instagram accounts and several YouTube channels linked to Aghdam–have been taken down.

Her father, Ismail Aghdam, told reporters: “She was angry” at YouTube.

Aghdam had expressed some heavy criticism over YouTube’s move to demonetize certain channels. She took issue specifically with what she believed to be a targeted reduction in viewership on her videos.

Aghdam also seemed to have engaged in some political speech.

An Instagram account believed to be run by her had more than 16,000 followers before it was shut down.

In one missive about YouTube’s move to demonetize certain channels, one post said: “There is no equal growth opportunity on YOUTUBE or any other video sharing site, your channel will grow if they want to!!!!!”

Aghdam, a resident of San Diego, drove from Southern California to San Bruno, the Bay Area home of YouTube’s headquarters, days before the shooting,

She is believed to have used a handgun to shoot three people before fatally shooting herself.

The police are still searching for a motive in the attack.

Media reports said Aghdam had been missing days before the shooting.