A heroic husband who rushed to save his wife and a beloved caretaker have been identified as additional victims of the San Diego mosque massacre. Nader Awad, 57, died while trying to confront two teenage gunmen who opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where his wife was inside on Monday. He was killed alongside mosque worker Mansoor Kaziha and security guard Amin Abdullah, who was identified earlier, before the shooters took their own lives.
Nader Awad: A Heroic Act
Awad was at home across the street from the mosque when he heard gunfire and heroically 'ran toward it' to try to prevent the tragedy, according to a fundraiser set up for his family. His wife was teaching at a school inside the Islamic center at the time, and he bravely raced toward the attackers, named by police as Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18. Awad's loved ones praised his bravery in their fundraiser, describing his decision to confront the attackers. 'Most people, hearing gunfire, run the other way. Nader ran toward it,' the fundraiser read. He then raced across the street directly toward the danger, encountering the teen shooters in hopes of saving those inside. Awad, who was also a teacher at the Islamic center's school, was shot dead outside the mosque before police arrived at the scene within minutes.
Mansoor Kaziha: The Heart of the Community
Kaziha, known as Abu El Ezz, was described in a separate fundraiser as a devoted staff member at the Islamic center who worked at the facility's store ever since it had been established in 1989. His loved ones described him as 'the heart and caretaker of our community.' He was working at the mosque's shop at the time when the teen shooters opened fire. His family wrote that he took care of the logistics no one wanted to think about, so that everyone else could come in, pray, eat, learn, and go home without ever wondering how it all kept running. 'It kept running because Mansoor kept running it,' they wrote.
Amin Abdullah: Security Guard Who Saved Lives
Amin Abdullah, a father of eight, was hailed as a hero by San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl, who said he 'minimized the situation' and rescued many inside before he was killed. 'His actions were heroic,' Wahl said. 'Undoubtedly, he saved lives today.' Abdullah was working as a security guard at the mosque and bravely leapt into action when the shooting unfolded.
The Attack and Investigation
San Diego police said Clark and Vazquez stole a vehicle and several weapons from Clark's mother and opened fire at the mosque before also shooting at a nearby landscaper who escaped without serious injury. Authorities said the two teenagers were found dead in a car several blocks away from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Police say Clark left behind a hate-filled suicide note 'about racial pride' before he and Vazquez opened fire at the mosque. Hours before the attack, Clark's mother reported to police that her son was suicidal and potentially armed with weapons, and officers were already searching for the teenager when he opened fire. The parent said she realized several of her guns were missing and saw him and a companion wearing 'camouflage outfits.' Chief Wahl said that although Clark's mother warned cops that her weapons were missing, she did not indicate any kind of planned attack on the mosque. 'There was no specific threat, especially no specific threat to the Islamic Center,' he said. 'It was just general hate kind of speech that I think covered a wide gamut.' Police said one of the weapons in the teen's vehicle had 'hate speech' written on it, sources told the LA Times. A gas canister emblazoned with a Nazi SS sticker on its side was seen next to the BMW X1 where the suspects were found dead, with a shotgun nearby.
Community Reaction and Investigation
Clark was enrolled in a virtual learning academy at the San Diego Unified School District and was set to graduate from high school this semester. He was previously a star wrestler at Madison High School but had only been attending classes online for some time, as officials said he had spiraled into 'hate speech.' Clark's grandparents told CNN they were stunned and heartbroken. Authorities are now probing the shooting as a hate crime. The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County, with around 5,000 members. The shooting came at the beginning of Dhu’l-Hijja, one of the holiest months on the Muslim calendar. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said, 'Hate has no home in San Diego. Islamophobia has no home in San Diego.'
