Three Dead After Teen Gunmen Open Fire at San Diego Mosque

Two teenage gunmen opened fire at a prominent mosque in San Diego on Monday, killing three men before turning their weapons on themselves in an incident that law enforcement authorities are currently investigating as a suspected hate crime.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the attackers—aged 17 and 18—targeted the Islamic Center of San Diego. Federal and local authorities stated that while there had been no specific prior threats directed against the facility, preliminary evidence suggests the young suspects were heavily influenced by generalized online hate rhetoric.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated during a press briefing that a comprehensive forensic investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the suspects' radicalization and motives.

A tracked suspect and a heroic intervention

Prior to the shooting, police had already launched an active search for the 17-year-old suspect after his mother filed a missing person report, expressing grave concerns that her son was suicidal. She informed dispatchers that household firearms were missing and that the teenager had taken her vehicle.

The police search intensified into an emergency response when investigators learned the teenager was fully armed, dressed in tactical camouflage gear, and accompanied by an older accomplice.

Using localized tracking technology, officers were closing in on the suspects' coordinates when panicked emergency calls reported active gunfire at the mosque. Police units arrived at the scene within minutes, Chief Wahl confirmed.

Among the three victims killed was the mosque’s on-duty security guard. Law enforcement officials highly credited his rapid, frontline intervention with preventing the attackers from entering deeper into the facility.

“It is fair to say his actions were heroic,” Chief Wahl told reporters at the scene. “Undoubtedly, his split-second response saved dozens of lives.”

Suspects found dead nearby

Shortly after the initial shooting at the Islamic Center, additional gunshots were reported by residents a few blocks away. Responding officers subsequently discovered the two teenage suspects dead inside the mother's vehicle parked on a nearby road, following an apparent murder-suicide pact.

The Islamic Center of San Diego, recognized as the largest mosque in San Diego County, also houses the Al Rashid School, an elementary institution providing specialized Islamic and Arabic education for children. First-responder bodycam and witness footage showed teachers and police officers safely evacuating dozens of children from the school premises as tactical units secured the perimeter.

Community and civil rights leadership respond

Imam Taha Hassane strongly condemned the tragedy, calling the targeted violence a profound violation of community safety.

"It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship," Imam Hassane stated. "All places of worship in our beautiful city should always be protected spaces where people feel entirely safe."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, issued an immediate statement condemning the attack.

"No one should ever have to fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school," said Tazheen Nizam, Executive Director of CAIR-San Diego. "We are working closely with law enforcement to learn more about this horrific incident, and we encourage everyone to keep this grieving community in their thoughts and prayers."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alongside local homicide detectives confirmed that the multi-agency investigation remains ongoing to determine the source of the firearms and the digital footprint of the gunmen.