child for the process, the unremarkable nature of the people who might go through this process and the danger that presents. i spent the better part of the year here in the u.s. and europe unraveling how he went from catholic to muslim, from u.s. army recruit to jihadist, from long island to lahore. he grew up on this street, in a middle class neighborhood on long island. his parents, latino immigrants, neither would go on camera with cnn but a neighbor says as a boy, bryant was like part of her family. >> very sweet little boy. he could come here any time and he was welcomed here. >> reporter: regis knew him best. >> when we were younger, we used to go in the pool a lot. he was respectful. he'd make sure he didn't break any rules in the house. >> reporter: there was nothing remarkable about bryant's early childhood. his teachers remember him being a good student, quiet and shy. he loved baseball and swimming. on sundays, he was an altar boy, his father devoutly catholic.