A security guard who was killed in a horrific attack at a mosque in San Diego has been praised as a hero for saving lives. The incident, which occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, May 18, left three people dead, including the guard.
Attack Details
Two teenage gunmen, identified as Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, were also found dead in a vehicle with self-inflicted wounds, according to authorities. Police believe the security guard played a pivotal role in preventing the attack from being much worse.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated, “It’s fair to say his actions were heroic. Undoubtedly, he saved lives today.” The identities of the guard and other victims have not yet been released.
Investigation as Hate Crime
The attack is being investigated as a hate crime. Police responded within four minutes of receiving an active shooter report. As officers arrived, gunshots were heard a few blocks away, where a landscaper was shot at but uninjured. The gunmen were found dead in a vehicle stopped in the middle of a nearby road.
Chief Wahl mentioned that officers had been in contact with one of the teenagers’ mothers earlier that day after she reported her son missing along with multiple weapons and her vehicle. She also found a note containing “hate rhetoric,” though no specific threat against the Islamic Center was identified.
Community Response
The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County and includes the Al Rashid School, offering courses in Arabic, Islamic studies, and the Quran. The mosque’s director, Imam Taha Hassane, called the attack “extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” emphasizing that all places of worship should be protected.
Photos from the scene showed a significant police presence outside the mosque and families fleeing the area. The community remains in shock as authorities continue their investigation.
