Updated 5 p.m. Monday
A security guard and two other adults were shot dead at the Islamic Center in San Diego, U.S., on Monday. Police say that two suspects — teenagers, one 17 years old and the other 18 years old — are dead from self-inflicted wounds. All children, teachers and staff are safe. Police say they are actively investigating the incident as a hate crime. Police found a hate message on one of the weapons. They say that the security guard’s actions were heroic and that he undoubtedly saved lives today.
Police were first contacted at about 9:42 a.m. by the mother of one of the teens when she found some of her weapons and her vehicle missing. Her son had left a suicide note that contained hate speech. She said that her son was with a companion and they were dressed in camo. She believed her son was suicidal.
Because three weapons were missing, police assessed that the threat was larger than just suicide. They went to check out a high school.
Then at about 11:43 a.m., police received a report of an active shooter at the Islamic Center.
Update Wednesday
The victims were later identified as security guard Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, caretaker and a founding member of the Islamic Center, and Nadir Awad, husband of a teacher at the Islamic Center.
According to the City of San Diego’s update on Tuesday: “The suspects parked in the Islamic Center’s lot and ran past the security guard, now identified as 51-year-old Amin Abdullah, and engaged in gunfire with the guard. The security guard returned gunfire and initiated lockdown protocols for the Center via his radio. He was unfortunately killed by the suspects. His actions delayed and deterred access to the greater area of the facility. The suspects then entered the building, accessed a few empty areas and rooms, and exited through a door back into the parking lot. There, they encountered 78-year-old Mansour Kaziha and 57-year-old Nadir Awad. The suspects opened fire, killing them. The suspects then fled in their vehicle into the neighborhood, where they shot at the gardener, who was uninjured. Shortly thereafter, they shot and killed themselves in the vehicle. The details around what happened during this time are still unclear.
“In coordination with the San Diego Police Department, the FBI is currently conducting extensive interviews with the suspects’ family and friends. It is believed that the two suspects met online, realized they both lived in San Diego, and exchanged radicalized ideology. The guns used in the incident were not registered to the suspects. How they obtained them is still under investigation.
“Law enforcement has executed three search warrants at residences associated with the suspects. During those searches, numerous firearms were seized from two of those locations, including numerous pistols, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, tactical gear, and electronics. So far in the investigation, over 30 guns and a crossbow have been seized.
“Investigators are continuing to process information from all locations. Search warrants have been executed on the electronic devices the suspects had with them at the time of the attack, and investigators are in the process of obtaining additional search warrants for other devices.
“Writings found in the vehicle described hatred toward various religions and races.”
Suspects: Caleb Liam Vazquez, 18 years old and Cain Lee Clark, 17 years old
