Khan was born in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia , to parents of Pakistani descent and grew up in Queens , New York . He also spent some of his teenage years living in Westbury , New York . He graduated from W. Tresper Clarke High School in 2003 where he wrote for the school newspaper , participated in cheerleading and was an active member of the glee club . According to his classmates , he refused to recite Pledge of Allegiance and blamed Americans for the September 11 attacks . Khan 's father , Zafar Khan , is an information technology executive . The family moved to Charlotte , North Carolina , in 2004
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Samir Khan