Two Teenagers Identified As Gunmen Who Killed Three At San Diego Mosque

At least three adult victims, including a security guard, were killed following an active shooter incident near the Islamic Center of San Diego in the Clairemont area on Monday. 

The security guard shot to death “played a pivotal role” in stopping more casualties, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said at a press conference. The suspects’ motive remains unclear, and the FBI is assisting in the investigation. Wahl said the incident would be treated as a hate crime “until it’s not.”

In an afternoon press conference, San Diego Democratic Mayor Todd Gloria confirmed the shooting is being investigated as a hate crime.

“There was definitely hate rhetoric that was involved,” he said.

Police confirmed two male suspects died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a car outside the mosque. NBC News reported the suspects were Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18. All three adult male victims were staff at the center. Authorities had previously said the suspects were 17 and 19. No motive has been provided, but investigators are reportedly reviewing “possible anti-Islamic writings” found in the car with the dead suspects, according to NBC News.

On Monday afternoon, authorities said the mother of one of the suspects contacted the San Diego Police Department at 9:42 am to report that her son had gone missing, along with multiple firearms, and her car. She said he was suicidal and was probably with a friend.

SDPD said officers received reports of gunfire at the center located at 7050 Eckstrom Avenue at 11:43 am local time and responded within four minutes. Police found all three victims dead outside the center, then cleared each room amid a “chaotic” scene. No officers fired a shot during the active shooter incident.

“Officers were in the area still talking with mom, trying to piece together where they might be, the locations that she felt that they would be at, and that was just a few blocks away,” Chief Wahl said. “Those officers, once they heard what was happening at the Islamic Center, immediatly dispatched themselves to the mosque.”

Aerial footage showed armed security guards escorting school-aged children off the scene.

Fox News aired footage of children being led away from a mosque shortly after the incident. https://t.co/61TWG0xvzu pic.twitter.com/uqRbDnzyIg

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Authorities said that there had been no specific threat to the center.