Douglas McCain, an American fighting for ISIS in Syria, was killed in a battle against another terrorist group.

American ISIS Member Killed

McCain, who grew up in a blue-collar town in Minnesota, was an aspiring rapper who moved to Southern California to pursue a career in the music industry. In 2005, the previously unreligious man, reverted to Islam. Less than 10 years later, McCain was on the frontlines with the Islamic State in Syria, where he was eventually killed.

Growing up, McCain did not show the signs of becoming a religious extremist, with former friends vouching for his friendly demeanor and joking sense of humor.

“He was a goofball in high school,” that classmate told NBC News. “Doug was a fun guy to be around. Played basketball, joked a lot, had a small sense of humor. Got along with most … Wasn't the best athlete, but liked to play.”

McCain, whose Twitter bio reads, “It’s Islam over everything,” often posted about Islam on Twitter and Facebook amidst posts about hip-hop and basketball.

“Allah keeps me going day and night. Without Allah, I am no one,” read one post. Another read, “I reverted to Islam 10 years ago and I must say In sha Allah I will never look back the best thing that ever happen to me.”

It is believed that McCain’s posts caught the attention of ISIS fighters, who reached out to him, urging him to join their fight. Eventually, McCain heeded the call and flew to Turkey, from where he entered Syria. “I’m with the brothers now,” McCain tweeted earlier this summer.

McCain’s death was confirmed by National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden, who went on to state that the United States is making every effort to prevent those like McCain from joining terrorist groups like the Islamic State.
"We continue to use every tool we possess to disrupt and dissuade individuals from traveling abroad for violent jihad and to track and engage those who return."

The largest threat for America with U.S.-born members of ISIS is the possibility that they will use their passports to fly back into the country and commit a devastating act of terrorist.

"The threat we are most concerned about to the homeland is that of fighters like this returning to the U.S. and committing acts of terrorism," a senior administration official told NBC News.