San Diego mosque shooting probed as hate crime
Gun attack kills three before suspects die at scene
Local and federal investigators are treating a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego as a possible hate crime after two teenage gunmen opened fire at the mosque complex, killing a security guard and two men outside the building before the suspects were later found dead of apparent self-inflicted wounds. Authorities have not publicly identified a specific motive or precipitating incident; detectives and FBI agents are collecting surveillance footage, ballistic evidence and witness statements to determine whether the site was deliberately targeted because of religion or ethnicity.
Officers responded to reports of an active shooter and contained the scene; aerial footage showed children being evacuated from an on-site day school, and officials confirmed all students were accounted for and safe. Police described damage consistent with gunfire and said initial reports of multiple people down were later clarified as fatalities and the two deceased suspects. No arrests have been announced and investigators said all avenues remain open as they work to reconstruct the timeline and piece together the motives.
Community leaders and civil rights groups condemned the attack and urged heightened protection for places of worship, warning that anti-Muslim rhetoric and religious hostility can contribute to violence and intimidation. Members of the local Muslim community gathered outside the mosque, expressing shock and concern while calling on authorities for a swift and thorough investigation; religious leaders emphasized unity and resilience in the face of intimidation.
Federal officials are reviewing whether the incident meets the threshold for a federal hate-crime prosecution under U.S. law. Meanwhile, local law enforcement said patrols around religious centers have been increased as a precaution while investigators continue forensic work and interviews. Authorities asked anyone with information or footage to come forward to assist the probe.
