Breaking — Americas
SAN DIEGO — A mother called police warning that her teenage son had taken several guns from her home and was missing with a companion — two hours before a deadly shooting rampage at the Islamic Center of San Diego that left three men dead, including a heroic security guard who officials say saved countless lives.
The suspects — a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old — were found dead in a car nearby from self-inflicted gunshots, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl confirmed. Investigators recovered anti-Islamic writing in the vehicle, and the words “hate speech” were written on one of the firearms used in the attack. A suicide note was also found.
The shooting, which occurred around noon on May 18, is being investigated as a hate crime. It comes as religious institutions across the United States face a surge in violence, with Islamophobia reaching historic levels.
Mother’s Warning
The mother of one suspect called police reporting her son was suicidal and had gone missing with a companion, her vehicle, and several weapons. Officers were still with the mother when the attack was reported. Police used license plate readers and other technology in an attempt to locate the pair — to no avail.
“I think it’s fair to say his actions were heroic, and undoubtedly he saved lives today,” Chief Wahl said of the slain security guard, whose identity has not been released pending family notification.
A landscaper was also shot at from the suspects’ vehicle a few blocks from the mosque. The bullet ricocheted off his helmet, likely saving his life. He was not injured.
Growing Wave of Attacks
The killings have sent shockwaves through the Muslim community nationwide. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani — the city’s first Muslim mayor — said in a statement: “Islamophobia endangers Muslim communities across this country. We must confront it directly and stand together against the politics of fear and division.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations received 8,683 civil rights complaints in 2025, the most since 1996. The shooting follows a string of attacks on religious institutions, including a synagogue outside Detroit in March and the Islamic Center in Matamoras, Pennsylvania, in February.
Following the attack, police departments in California and across the country announced increased patrols of mosques, Islamic cultural centers, and other houses of worship as a precaution.
President Trump weighed in on social media, saying the shooting was “an act of pure evil” and promising federal support. The Jewish Federations of North America expressed sorrow, noting that “the threat facing religious communities in America is real, urgent and growing.”
KEY FACTS:
• 3 men killed; both suspects dead from self-inflicted gunshots
• Suspects aged 17 and 18; anti-Islamic writing found in car
• Mother called police two hours before attack — officers were with her when shooting began
• Security guard killed; helmet saved landscaper’s life
• Hate crime investigation underway
• CAIR received record 8,683 civil rights complaints in 2025
The Islamic Center of San Diego — the city’s largest mosque — has been closed until further notice. Community members gathered outside for hours, waiting to retrieve children from the attached school. The shooting occurred during what would have been a regular midday prayer service.
The FBI, San Diego Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are jointly investigating. Federal authorities have not confirmed a motive, but local officials say hate rhetoric is a central line of inquiry.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.
