Deadly Shooting at San Diego Mosque Investigated as Suspected Hate Crime
Authorities say two teenage suspects killed three people at a San Diego mosque before taking their own lives, with investigators examining extremist motives behind the attack.
- A mosque security guard was among the three victims killed in the shooting.
- Police found writings containing hate rhetoric linked to one of the teenage suspects.
- Children at the mosque’s school were evacuated as officers responded to the attack.
A suspected hate crime at a mosque in San Diego, California, left three people dead after two teenage gunmen opened fire before taking their own lives, according to police.
The attack happened on Monday morning at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Authorities said the suspects, aged 17 and 18, were already being sought by officers after the mother of one of the teens reported that her son had taken several firearms from her home and left with another teenager. She also warned police that he might be suicidal.
Police said the pair arrived at the mosque around 11:43 local time, where officers later found three men fatally shot outside the building. Among the victims was a security guard described by officials as having acted heroically to stop the attack from becoming even more deadly.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the guard “played a pivotal role” in protecting others at the mosque. A person who knew the guard told CBS News he was a father of eight.
Investigators believe the shooting may have been motivated by hate. Police said writings linked to one of the suspects contained racist and hateful language, although no direct threat toward the mosque had been identified beforehand.
As officers searched the mosque and followed active shooter procedures, another emergency call reported gunfire nearby. Police later discovered the suspects dead inside a vehicle several blocks away from the mosque, apparently from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Authorities said the suspects had also fired from their vehicle at a landscaper shortly before they died. The worker was not injured, though police believe a bullet may have struck and deflected off his hard hat.
The Islamic Center campus includes the Al Rashid School, where children were attending classes when the shooting unfolded. Video from the scene showed students being escorted to safety while nearby schools were placed under lockdown.
Witnesses reported hearing rapid bursts of gunfire that sounded like a semi-automatic weapon. One nearby resident said he heard around 30 shots before calling emergency services.
Imam Taha Hassane, director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, condemned the violence, saying a place of worship should never become “a battlefield.” The attack came just days before Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was horrified by the attack and vowed the state would not tolerate violence against religious communities. US President Donald Trump called the shooting a “terrible situation” and said federal authorities were reviewing the case closely.
