Teen suspects kill three people in suspected hate crime at San Diego mosque
Two teenagers opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego in California on Monday morning, killing three men in what authorities are treating as a suspected hate-driven attack before both suspects later died by suicide, police said.
The shooting unfolded while children were inside classrooms at the mosque campus, which also includes the Al Rashid School offering religious and language education. As the attack developed, aerial footage showed children being calmly escorted in groups through a parking area while police and emergency teams secured the site. Several nearby schools were also placed under lockdown as a precaution.
Police said they first received a call at around 11:43 local time reporting possible gunfire at the Islamic Center, the largest mosque in San Diego County. Officers arriving at the scene found three victims with gunshot wounds outside the front entrance of the building. Authorities confirmed that no police officers fired their weapons during the incident.
Among those killed was a security guard working at the center. Officials later praised him for his actions, saying he likely prevented the situation from becoming even worse. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described him as “heroic,” stating that his intervention “undoubtedly saved lives.” A person who knew him told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that he was a father of eight.
Investigators believe the attack may have been motivated by hate, citing both the location—a place of worship—and writings linked to one of the suspects. However, officials emphasized that the exact motive has not yet been confirmed. Police said a note left by one of the teens contained “generalised hate rhetoric and hate speech,” but did not specify any target or location.
The suspects, aged 17 and 18, were later found dead inside a vehicle a few blocks from the mosque. Authorities said they appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Earlier, the suspects had also opened fire from a vehicle at a landscaper nearby. The worker was not injured, though police believe a bullet may have struck his hard hat.
Investigators said the situation began earlier in the day when the mother of one suspect contacted police, reporting that her son had left home with firearms and her vehicle, accompanied by another teen, both wearing camouflage clothing. At the time, officers were still communicating with the mother and were only minutes away from the mosque when the attack occurred.
Police also noted that the suspect’s behavior did not initially appear consistent with a suicidal intent. Despite this, shortly after the initial shooting, officers responded to additional reports of gunfire in the area before discovering the suspects deceased.
Witnesses described hearing what sounded like a semi-automatic weapon, with up to 30 shots fired in bursts. One local resident said he heard two separate volleys of gunfire before calling emergency services, and that police arrived within minutes.
Imam Taha Hassane, director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, condemned the attack, calling it “extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” and emphasized that the mosque is “a house of worship, not a battlefield.” The community was also preparing for Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant religious celebrations in Islam, which was only days away.
Political leaders also responded to the tragedy. California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was “horrified” by the attack, stressing that violence targeting places where families gather for worship would not be tolerated. US President Donald Trump called it a “terrible situation” and said authorities would investigate it thoroughly.
The FBI has appealed to the public for any information that could assist the ongoing investigation as authorities continue working to determine the full motive and circumstances behind the attack.
