“Nate is not a radical terrorist. He is nothing like that. He is not an Islamophobe. That’s not who this kid is,” said one friend.

The friend, who hails from the Middle East, said he never heard Veltman say a bad thing about the Middle East or Muslims. “Nate was a very close friend and never said anything bad to me,” the man said.

Another friend said Veltman “never said anything hateful” about any groups.

“He’s Christian and has a great relationship with God. . . . He was always pretty calm towards other people,” that friend said.