Nutpisit Suthamtewakul, owner of the Happy Bowl Thai restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas, said in an interview that he met Aaron Alexis roughly three years ago at an area Buddhist temple. Mr. Alexis had recently converted from Christianity to Buddhism, he said.

Mr. Suthamtewakul, who is actually a Christian, not a Buddhist, said the two became friends and drinking buddies. When Mr. Alexis told him he was fighting with a neighbor at his apartment over noise issues, Mr. Suthamtewakul said he invited Mr. Alexis to move in with him and his wife, and personally helped Mr. Alexis move out of the apartment.