Tragedy at Islamic Center of San Diego: Three Dead in Apparent Hate Crime

A shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday resulted in the deaths of three adult men and two suspected assailants. Authorities are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

"This is every community's worst nightmare."
— San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl

Incident Timeline

At approximately 11:40 a.m. local time, police received reports of an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD) in the Clairemont neighborhood, roughly 14 kilometers north of downtown San Diego. The facility is the largest mosque in San Diego County and includes an adjacent private school, the Al Rashid School.

San Diego Police responded within four minutes, deploying 50 to 100 officers to the scene. Officers found three adult males deceased outside the center. Police subsequently received reports of additional gunfire at a nearby location, where two individuals were found dead inside a vehicle from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The San Diego Police Department confirmed that no officers fired their weapons.

Victims

The three deceased victims were adult men, one of whom has been identified as a security guard at the mosque. Police have stated that the security guard's actions may have prevented a greater number of casualties. The identities of the other two victims have not been publicly released, per official statements. All children and staff at the school were reported safe, and a reunification center was established at a nearby church for affected families.

Suspects

The two suspected shooters were identified as Cain Clark (age 17) and Caleb Vazquez (age 18). Both were found deceased from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. According to authorities, anti-Islamic writings were recovered from the suspects' vehicle. The FBI executed search warrants at locations linked to the suspects.

Police reported that approximately two hours before the shooting, they received a call from a parent reporting a runaway juvenile. The parent stated that several weapons and a vehicle were missing and that their son, the 17-year-old, may have been suicidal. The parent reported that her son was with another person, both wearing camouflage clothing. Law enforcement used license plate readers to track the vehicle.

Investigation

The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime, with the location cited as a primary factor. The FBI is assisting in the investigation and has established a tip line to collect information from the public.

Official Statements

"We have never experienced a tragedy like this before. It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship."
— Imam and Director Taha Hassane

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria stated that the threat has been addressed and that children are safe, adding, "Obviously, we've had the loss of life here."

California Governor Gavin Newsom's office confirmed he was being briefed, with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services coordinating with local law enforcement.

President Donald Trump called the situation "terrible" and said he was receiving briefings.

Broader Response

In response to the incident, police departments in Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago announced increased patrols at mosques and houses of worship as a precautionary measure, stating that no specific threats had been identified in those cities. The Islamic Center of Southern California reported it was working with law enforcement and hiring additional security.