Three people, including a security guard, were shot dead outside a California mosque before a pair of teenage gunmen apparently took their own lives.
The mayhem began at around 11.40 am Monday when shots rang out at the Islamic Center of San Diego in Clairemont.
Officers arrived on scene within four minutes, and ‘immediately’ observed the deceased victims outside the building, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said in a press conference.
The two suspects, identified as Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, were found dead in a car nearby with apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police said.
A total of five people were killed: the two teen gunmen and three adult males.
‘Because of the Islamic center’s location, we are considering it a hate crime until it’s not,’ Wahl added before turning to Mark Remily, the FBI special agent in charge.
Remily said that the two shooters are ‘teenagers’, but did not provide further details. Police were at the homes of the shooters’ relatives Monday evening.
Multiple people were taken to hospital after shots rang out, NBC News reported. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
A security guard and two others were shot dead after two teenage gunmen opened fire at a mosque in California on Monday
Panicked parents arrived at the scene to retrieve their children after two teenage gunman opened fire
An official at Sharp Memorial Hospital told the outlet that they have activated their disaster protocols and are continuing to wait for more patients.
The imam of the mosque confirmed that no children were injured during the shooting.
The Muslim place of worship is also home to the Al Rashid school, which was formerly known as the Islamic School of San Diego.
Kids in kindergarten through third grade attend the school.
‘The entire school is safe. All the kids, all the staff and the teachers are safe out of the Islamic Center,’ Imam Taha Hassane said in a Facebook video update.
‘We have a few casualties, not confirmed yet. There is no threat at this moment, but we want everyone to stay away from the Islamic Center of San Diego.’
Crowds of young students were seen being evacuated from the building by law enforcement officers.
Panicked parents rushed to the scene to pick up their children after police set up a reunification site at San Diego Clairemont Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Several people were seen on the phone trying to get answers about what happened while a woman was seen crouching down outside the mosque as the terror unfolded.
Crowds of students are evacuated from the site, which is home to Al Rashid school
Aerial footage also captured a sheet covering what appeared to be a body on the ground outside the building.
Around 5pm, police said the threat ‘has been neutralized.’
‘We have significant resources on scene at this time,’ the agency added.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area, and have shut down parts of Interstate 805 near Balboa Avenue.
A shelter was also initiated for locals in the area.
Following reports of the shooting, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria issued a statement on X.
‘I am aware of the active shooter situation at the Islamic Center of San Diego in Clairemont and am continuing to receive updates from law enforcement.
‘Emergency personnel are on scene and actively working to protect the community and secure the area.’
California Governor Gavin Newsom also acknowledged the shooting, writing: ‘We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities.’
An armed police officer outside the mosque. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) confirmed that a member of the Islamic center died in the gunfire
President Trump has also been briefed on the shooting, and condemned what he said was a ‘terrible situation.’
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) confirmed that a member of the Islamic center died.
‘To God we belong, and to God we return. We have learned from @CAIRSanDiego that at least one person was killed by a shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego today.
‘May Allah grant him the highest rank of Paradise and protect everyone from harm. No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school. We are working to learn more about this incident and we encourage everyone to keep this community in your prayers.’
The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County, with around 5,000 members.
