Photo of Michigan synagogue attacker shows him with AR-style rifle

A man who attacked a Michigan synagogue last week sent a photograph of himself holding the AR-style rifle used in the assault to a family member in Lebanon, according to a U.S. official. The image is the first documented evidence linking the attacker directly to the weapon and shows potential premeditation or intent to document the planned violence. The photo's existence suggests the attacker communicated details of his actions or plans to contacts outside the United States, raising questions about whether overseas associates had advance knowledge of the attack. The discovery adds to investigators' understanding of the attacker's motivations and whether he had connections to extremist networks or ideologies.