San Diego Mosque Attack Kills Three Who Tried to Stop Gunmen

San Diego police responded to reports of gunfire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday morning and found three adult men dead outside the building. The victims included a security guard identified as Amin Abdullah, a father of eight who officials credited with limiting the damage from the attack. Authorities said the two gunmen, identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a vehicle several blocks away.

The mother of one suspect had contacted police roughly two hours earlier to report that her son had taken multiple weapons and her car and was possibly suicidal. She noted he had left with a companion and both were wearing camouflage clothing. Officers were already searching for the pair when the 911 call came in from the mosque at 11:43 a.m. Police arrived within four minutes and found the scene with three deceased victims. No officers discharged their weapons during the response.

Investigators recovered anti-Islamic writings from the suspects' vehicle and noted the phrase "hate speech" written on one of the firearms. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated that the incident would be treated as a possible hate crime until evidence showed otherwise. The FBI has joined the investigation and established a tip line for public information. Officials have not released a confirmed motive, though the writings and the choice of target have prompted authorities to examine ideological factors alongside the personal circumstances of the attackers.

The security guard's actions drew particular attention from law enforcement. Wahl described them as heroic and said they prevented additional casualties at the site, which houses the largest mosque in San Diego County. Residents nearby reported seeing the guard struck by gunfire while positioned outside the complex. All three victims worked at the center, and the attack occurred shortly before midday prayers.

Police had used license plate readers and checked locations including a nearby mall after the mother's report. They also notified a school where at least one suspect had been enrolled. The rapid sequence from the initial alert to the shooting underscores how quickly the situation developed once the teens left home with the weapons.

Authorities continue to review the writings found with the suspects and the full timeline of events. The focus remains on establishing what prompted the choice of target and whether the writings reflected a developed motive or more immediate personal grievances. The investigation will determine how much weight to give the documented statements versus other factors such as the reported suicidal intent noted by the family member.