Elton Simpson, 30, and Nadir Hamid Soofi, 34, both of whom attended the same mosque in Phoenix, Arizona, turned up at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas, Sunday in body armor and carrying weapons. Both were shot and killed by a Garland traffic officer who sustained a minor gunshot wound to the ankle.

The backstory to this event will prove interesting. (Phoenix? Why would they drive all the way to Texas? How could two men with AK47s in hand do so little damage? Where did they get the guns? Were they paid to do this? If so, by whom?)

The opening of the exhibit and its contest certainly are akin to waving a red flag in front of a bull, especially since the whole point of the event, sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative (a New York-based group that also uses the name Stop Islamization of America). was to exhibit anti-Islamic cartoons and award a $10,000 top prize for the best caricature of the prophet. (“Best” is an arguable point, as the cartoons are described as juvenile and amateurish.)

Here’s one place to read more: Gunman in Texas Was F.B.I. Suspect in Jihad Inquiry