Three men were shot and killed outside the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday morning in an attack authorities are investigating as a hate crime, carried out by two teenagers who were later found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds inside a vehicle blocks from the scene.
Officers arrived within four minutes of receiving the first emergency call at 11:43 a.m. and found three victims already dead outside the mosque in San Diego’s Clairemont neighbourhood, roughly eight miles north of downtown.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) San Diego identified the victims as Amin Abdullah, the mosque’s security guard and father of eight; Mansour Kaziha, who managed the mosque store and was a husband, father, and grandfather; and Nader Awad, who was recognised for saving additional lives during the attack. A fourth account identified the teacher killed as Mohamed Nader, who lived across the street and ran toward the gunfire to locate his wife who worked at the centre. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described Abdullah’s actions as heroic, saying the security guard undoubtedly saved lives by limiting the attack’s reach.
Two senior law enforcement officials and a federal law enforcement official identified the suspected shooters as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, both from San Diego. Clark attended James Madison High School virtually and was on track to graduate this month. Police have not formally confirmed the identities. Anti-Islamic writing was found in the vehicle where the suspects were discovered, and hate speech was inscribed on one of the firearms used in the attack. One of the suspects left a suicide note containing writings about racial pride.
At 9:42 a.m., more than two hours before the shooting, police received a call from the mother of one of the suspects reporting a runaway juvenile. She told officers her son was suicidal, that her car and several of her firearms were missing, and that he had left with a companion, both dressed in camouflage. That information prompted police to begin elevating the threat assessment, though the suspects had already moved toward the mosque.
Between 50 and 100 officers entered the Islamic Center during the response, searching classrooms, prayer areas and surrounding buildings. All teachers, students and staff were evacuated safely. A landscaper working in the area was also fired upon but survived.
“People come to the Islamic center to pray, to celebrate, to learn,” mosque Imam Taha Hassane said, calling the attack outrageous.
The attack occurred on the first day of Dhul Hijjah, one of the most sacred periods in the Islamic calendar. In response, the Los Angeles Police Department increased patrols around mosques and places of worship across the city. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) committed full resources to supporting the investigation, with agents raiding a suspect’s home Monday night. A formal motive has not yet been released.
