Guns seized from man who wanted 'We Love ISIS’ hat

David Diaz Sr. David Diaz Sr. Photo: San Mateo County Sheriff / San Mateo County Sheriff's Offic Photo: San Mateo County Sheriff / San Mateo County Sheriff's Offic Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Guns seized from man who wanted 'We Love ISIS’ hat 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A 54-year-old San Mateo man with apparent mental health issues who went to a mall to get a hat embroidered with “We Love ISIS” was charged with weapons violations after police found assault rifles and a shotgun at his home, a prosecutor said Thursday.

David Diaz Sr., who told authorities he is a military veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, was to appear Thursday in San Mateo County Superior Court on charges of illegally possessing an assault rifle, a sawed-off shotgun and a large-capacity ammunition magazine. He is free in lieu of $175,000 bail.

On Oct. 7, Diaz went to the Lids hat store at the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo and asked that his hat be embroidered with “We Love ISIS,” said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Diaz questioned the clerk about her religion and other personal matters, Wagstaffe said, before telling her, “Millions of Americans are going to die because America can’t mind its f— business.”

Diaz allegedly told the clerk he was a member of the terrorist group ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, and had beheaded 97 nuns. The clerk told Diaz she was going to have to check with her superiors, and he left, Wagstaffe said.

The clerk called San Mateo police the next day, prompting officers and FBI agents to visit Diaz’s apartment on George Avenue. They learned he was on numerous psychiatric medications, Wagstaffe said. Diaz told the investigators that he was a veteran suffering from PTSD and “denied loyalty to ISIS,” the prosecutor said.

Diaz was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold, and authorities confiscated six rifles and two handguns, including an illegal assault rifle and a sawed-off shotgun, Wagstaffe said. Officers also reporting seizing thousands of rounds of ammunition and five illegal high-capacity firearm magazines.