Deadly shooting at San Diego’s largest mosque

Five people are dead — including two gunmen — after a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego in Clairemont, according to San Diego Police.

Catch up quick: Police began receiving calls regarding an active shooter there around 11:40 am PT.

• The center also operates as a school, and all the children there at the time are reported to be safe, according to police.

Police Chief Scott Wahl called the scene “extremely chaotic” during a press briefing Monday, and that responding officers found three deceased victims outside the center.

• One of those killed was a mosque security guard, he said.
• “I don’t want to speculate, but his actions were heroic, and he undoubtedly saved lives today,” Wahl said.

Wahl said at 9:42 am Monday morning, the police department received a report of a runaway juvenile who police have not yet identified.

• They spoke to the juvenile’s mother, who said she believed her son was suicidal and that “several of her weapons were missing,” along with her car.
• The mother told police her son “was with a companion and that they were dressed in camo.”
• “She found some note left by him. ‘What that note looks like, what that note says, I’m not going to disclose right now,'” Wahl added.

Police began to search for the car and had hits from a license plate reader near the Fashion Valley mall.

• Officers began searching near the mall and at Madison High School in Clairemont. Wahl would not confirm whether the suspects were students at the school.

When officers were speaking with the mother, the call came in for the active shooter at the Islamic Center.

• “Officers were in the area still talking with mom, trying to piece together where they might be, locations that she felt that they would be at, and that was just a few blocks away,” Wahl said.

About the same time as police were arriving to the mosque, calls began coming in of gunfire a few blocks away, and that a landscaper was shot at but not struck, Wahl said.

• Officers were soon called to another nearby location to find the shooting suspects, ages 17 and 18, deceased in a vehicle from what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshots, he said.
• Officers conducted room-by-room clearance of the mosque, breaching doors in some instances, Wahl said.
• There were between 50 to 100 officers in the facility at one point, and Wahl praised the officers for their rapid response.

He said there will be “a tremendous amount of information and details to come,” and is expected to hold another press briefing later today.

• The victims have not been identified, pending next-of-kin notification.
• “This is every community’s worst nightmare,” Wahl said.

Driving the news: Wahl said investigator are considering the incident a hate crime until an investigation can prove otherwise.

• “There was definitely hate rhetoric that was involved, I’ll leave it at that for now,” he said.
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a post to social media: “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.”

Zoom in: The Islamic Center is the largest mosque in San Diego County, according to its website.

What they’re saying: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Gov. Gavin Newsom both posted on X that they’ve been briefed on the situation.

• “We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities,” Newsom said.

Zoom out: Monday began one of the holiest periods in the Islamic year, Dhul Hijjah.

• Muslims observe the first 10 days of the lunar month as a second chance to have sins forgiven after Ramadan.
• Dhul Hijjah marks the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage season, culminating in Eid al-Adha.

Go deeper: Some in San Diego Islamic Center community feared attack for years

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.

Editor’s note: The story has been updated to reflect SDPD’s correction of the age of one suspect as 18 (not 19).

المصدر: Axios