Three men were killed in a suspected hate-motivated shooting at a mosque in San Diego, California, on Monday, before the two teenage suspects allegedly took their own lives, authorities said.
The attack unfolded at the Islamic Center of San Diego as police were already investigating reports of a potentially suicidal teenager who had left home armed with several firearms.
Officers responded to the mosque at about 11:43 a.m. local time after reports of gunfire and discovered three victims suffering from gunshot wounds outside the building. According to San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl, there was no exchange of gunfire involving officers, and no suspects were initially found at the scene.
Shortly afterward, police received reports of another shooting nearby involving shots fired from a vehicle at a landscaper, who survived without injuries. Investigators later found the two suspects, aged 17 and 18, dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds inside a vehicle several blocks from the mosque.
Among those killed at the mosque was a security guard described by officials as having acted heroically during the attack. Chief Wahl said the guard “played a pivotal role” in preventing the violence from becoming “much worse.”
“It’s fair to say his actions were heroic,” Wahl told reporters. “Undoubtedly he saved lives today.”
Authorities have not publicly identified the victims, though a person familiar with the security guard told CBS News he was a father of eight.
Investigators said the motive remains under investigation, but the incident is being treated as a suspected hate crime because the mosque appeared to be deliberately targeted and because writings linked to one of the suspects allegedly contained hate-filled rhetoric.
Earlier in the day, the mother of one suspect had contacted police after her son reportedly left home with her car and several firearms. She told officers he was accompanied by another teen and that both were dressed in camouflage clothing.
Chief Wahl said a note left behind included “generalized hate rhetoric and hate speech,” though it did not mention any direct threat against the mosque or any other specific location.
Police tracked the suspects to several locations, including a local high school attended by one of the teens and a nearby shopping mall. Officers were still interviewing the suspect’s mother and searching the area when the shooting began only a few blocks away.
After discovering the victims outside the mosque, officers entered the building and carried out active shooter response procedures while ensuring worshippers and students inside were safely evacuated.
The Islamic Center campus includes Al Rashid School, where children were attending classes during the incident. Video footage from the scene showed children being escorted hand-in-hand through a parking area as police secured the site. Several nearby schools were temporarily placed on lockdown.
Witnesses described hearing rapid gunfire during the attack. One resident told CBS News he heard what sounded like up to 30 shots fired from a semi-automatic weapon.
“I heard about a dozen shots, then a pause, then another series of shots,” the witness said, adding that police arrived within minutes after he called emergency services.
Imam Taha Hassane, director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, condemned the violence during a news conference.
“It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” he said. “This is a house of worship, not a battlefield.”
The attack occurred just days before Eid al-Adha, one of the holiest celebrations in Islam.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was “horrified” by the attack, adding that California “will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith.”
US President Donald Trump also commented on the incident, calling it “a terrible situation” and saying federal authorities were closely monitoring developments.
The FBI has appealed to the public for information that could assist investigators as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.