By Bonface Muyungi
Three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the county’s largest mosque. Two suspects in the shooting were found dead, police confirmed.
Police Chief Scott Wahl described a chaotic series of events that unfolded across multiple crime scenes in a busy and residential neighborhood.
The first call of an active shooter at the mosque came in at 11:43 a.m. and officers were on scene within four minutes, Wahl said. Officers found three victims who had been killed outside the Islamic Center. The FBI said all three victims were adult men. One of the three killed was working as a security guard on site, the police chief said.
At the same time, police received calls of more gunfire nearby. Officers responded to that scene, a few blocks away, where they found a landscaper who had been shot at, but wasn’t hit, Wahl said.
Police were then able to track down two suspects, who were found dead in a vehicle. Both were teenagers, according to the FBI. They appeared to die from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, the police chief said.
The circumstances surrounding the shootings, as well as the motive in the case, are still under investigation. The FBI is assisting local law enforcement. Considering the three victims were at a local mosque, Wahl said, “we are considering this a hate crime until it’s not.”
A heavy police and SWAT presence, as well as fire and medic crews, could be seen gathering outside the Islamic Center just after noon. Nexstar’s KSWB/KUSI was overhead as children from nearby schools were seen being evacuated from the area as police set up a perimeter.
“In 28 years this is the most dynamic and impressive response that I have ever seen in policing,” Wahl said.
San Diego Police were asking the public to avoid the area. Five San Diego Unified schools were placed on lockdown.
A school at the Islamic Center was evacuated and no students were harmed.
Mayor Todd Gloria posted on X he was aware of the active shooter situation and was continuing to receive updates from law enforcement. “Emergency personnel are on scene and actively working to protect the community and secure the area.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he was being briefed. “We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities,” his office posted on the social platform X.
The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County and is located in the Clairemont neighborhood, near Interstate 805. The campus includes the Al Rashid School, which the website says offers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies and the Quran.
The website says its mission is to not only serve the Muslim population but also “work with the larger community to serve the less fortunate, to educate, and to better our nation.” Five daily prayers are held there, and the mosque works with other organizations and people of all faiths on social causes.
