Three Killed in Shooting by Teenagers at California Mosque; Police Suspect Hate Crime

Shooting Incident at San Diego Islamic Mosque in the US
Three Men, Including Security Guard, Killed
Two Teenage Suspects Found Dead Nearby
Police: "Investigating as a Hate Crime"

Two teenage gunmen opened fire at an Islamic mosque in San Diego, California, killing three people.

According to the Associated Press and CNN on May 19 (local time), two teenage shooters fired indiscriminately at the Islamic Center in San Diego, killing three men, including a security guard.

On the 18th (local time), a shooting incident occurred at an Islamic Center in San Diego, California, USA, where police officers are standing guard. Photo by Reuters, Yonhap News Agency

The suspects were found dead inside a car that had stopped in the middle of a nearby road. Police stated that the suspects were 17 and 19 years old.

The incident took place at the Islamic Center of San Diego, located in the Clairemont area of San Diego County.

Police reported that they arrived at the scene four minutes after receiving the emergency call. As officers arrived, additional gunshots were heard several blocks away from the mosque, and a man who was landscaping was shot at, but was not injured.

Scott Wahl, Chief of the San Diego Police Department, stated at a press conference held in a nearby park that the case is being investigated as a hate crime. Chief Wahl said, "The circumstances that led to this incident will be revealed in the coming days."

CNN, citing multiple sources, reported that one of the suspected shooters left a manifesto claiming racial superiority. In addition, hate speech was found written on the firearm used in the crime, and anti-Islamic slogans were discovered in their vehicle.

Among the deceased was the mosque’s security guard. Police explained that this guard "played a crucial role in preventing the situation from becoming much worse."

The Islamic Center is the largest mosque in San Diego County and also operates Al Rashid School, which offers Arabic, Islamic studies, and Quran education for students aged five and older.

Local news footage showed about a dozen children holding hands as they exited the mosque's parking lot, which was surrounded by dozens of police vehicles. The mosque, with its white exterior walls, is located in a residential and commercial area densely populated with Middle Eastern restaurants and grocery stores.

On the 18th (local time), women are embracing each other waiting for children coming out of the mosque at a gathering spot near the scene of the shooting incident at the Islamic Center in San Diego, California, USA. Photo by Reuters, Yonhap News Agency

Taha Hassane, Imam and leader of the Islamic Center, said, "An attack targeting a place of worship is extremely shocking," adding, "All religious facilities in our city must always be protected."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the United States, also issued a statement condemning the shooting. Tajin Nizam, Executive Director of CAIR’s San Diego chapter, stated, "No one should have their safety threatened while worshiping or studying at an elementary school," and added, "We are working to understand the circumstances of the incident and ask for prayers for the community."

The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed gratitude to first responders protecting the community at the scene through a post on the social media platform X, and urged all residents to follow guidance from local authorities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.