Three Killed in Shooting at Islamic Center of San Diego; Police Investigate as Possible Hate Crime
Three people were killed and at least two others injured when two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Sunday evening, in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime.
The shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. at the mosque on Eckstrom Avenue near Clairemont Mesa — the largest mosque in San Diego County, serving an estimated 3,000 congregants. The suspects, both teenagers, died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the scene, according to San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.
A security guard at the mosque has been hailed as a hero for engaging the shooters and likely preventing additional casualties. At least two other people were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds; their conditions were described as stable.
Community Response
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria arrived at the scene Sunday night and addressed the media, calling the attack “an assault on our shared values.”
“This kind of hatred has no place in San Diego,” Gloria said. “We stand with our Muslim neighbors and will bring the full weight of our resources to bear in this investigation.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) San Diego chapter said in a statement that it was “devastated” by the attack and called on the FBI to investigate the shooting as a hate crime.
Investigation
The FBI’s San Diego field office confirmed it was assisting local law enforcement with the investigation. Authorities have not yet released the identities of either the victims or the suspects, pending notification of families.
Police have secured multiple crime scenes and are reviewing security camera footage from the mosque and surrounding businesses. A motive has not been officially confirmed, but investigators said early evidence suggested the attack was motivated by anti-Muslim bias.
The Islamic Center of San Diego has received multiple threats in recent years. In 2023, security cameras captured a man leaving threatening materials at the mosque entrance. A heightened security presence has been maintained at the facility since the October 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict began.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Source: Reporting based on publicly available information from SDPD press conference, CAIR statements, and city government communications. All facts have been verified against multiple public sources.