Three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, California, in what authorities said was being investigated as a hate crime. Two suspects, aged 17 and 18, were also found dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, officials confirmed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation stated it was seeking information from the public as it investigated the incident and had established a tip line for tips.
Details of the Incident
The shooting occurred shortly before midday prayers at the Islamic Center of San Diego, located in the Clairemont area. The center is the largest mosque in San Diego County. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described the event as “every community’s worst nightmare.” According to Wahl, the mother of one of the suspects contacted police approximately two hours before the deadly shooting, reporting that her son was missing along with several weapons and her vehicle. Officers were searching for the teenager and his friend when they received a 911 call from the Islamic Center.
Police officers who were already in the vicinity searching for the teens rushed to the scene and discovered three individuals fatally shot. Simultaneously, dispatchers received another call reporting gunfire from a vehicle two blocks away, Wahl said. A landscaper “may have been shot in the helmet that deflected and saved his life,” he added.
Victims and Heroic Actions
Authorities confirmed that no children at the center’s school were harmed. A reunification centre was set up for the families of those affected. Among the three deceased was a security guard at the centre. Officials stated that the guard helped “minimize” the threats, though details were still being confirmed. “I think it’s fair to say [the guard’s] actions were heroic, and undoubtedly he saved lives today,” Wahl remarked.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria assured the public: “The threat currently has been addressed, children are safe and that is a good thing.” He expressed condolences to the local Muslim community, saying, “Obviously, we’ve had the loss of life here at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and to our local Muslim community, my prayers are with you.” At a later press conference, Gloria emphasised, “Hate has no home in San Diego. Islamophobia has no home in San Diego. An attack on any San Diegan is an attack on all San Diegans, and we will not stand for it in America’s finest city.”
Community and Official Reactions
Taha Hassane, an imam and director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, stated, “We have never experienced a tragedy like this before, and at this moment, all what I can say is sending our prayers and standing in solidarity with all the families in our community here and also the other mosques and all the places of worship in our beautiful city should always be protected.” He called the attack “extremely outrageous” and urged respect for the mourning process: “Please let the families mourn, let them pray, as we do always at the Islamic Center of San Diego. It is a house of worship. It’s not a battlefield.” Hassane also decried “the religious intolerance and the hate, unfortunately, that exists in our nation,” calling for a culture of tolerance and love.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the shooting. Tazheen Nizam, executive director of CAIR-San Diego, said in a statement, “We strongly condemn this horrifying act of violence. No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school.” California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed he had been briefed and that the governor’s office of emergency services was coordinating with local law enforcement. “California sends our deepest condolences to the families and communities impacted by today’s shooting. Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives. Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith,” Newsom said.
National Response and Increased Patrols
Former President Donald Trump was also briefed on the shooting, calling it “a terrible situation.” According to the FBI, the suspected shooters are believed to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. “There were no officers involved in firing their weapons,” said FBI Special Agent Mark Remily. In Los Angeles, more than 100 miles north of San Diego, police announced increased patrols at mosques, Islamic centres, and places of worship “out of an abundance of caution.” Similarly, the New York Police Department stated it was aware of the shooting and, while there was no known connection to New York City or specific threats to houses of worship, it was increasing deployments to mosques across the city as a precaution.
