Police say a shooting at a San Diego mosque has killed three men and left both shooters dead of apparent self-inflicted wounds. The attack occurred on Monday, May 19, 2026, at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Sequence of Events
About two hours after a mother called police to report her son had run away with her weapons and vehicle, shots rang out at the mosque. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the mother described her 17-year-old son as suicidal. The search for the boy intensified when police learned he was dressed in camouflage and with an acquaintance, which did not align with suicidal intentions.
Police used automated license plate readers, dispatched authorities to a nearby mall, and alerted Madison High School, where at least one suspect was a student. While officers were still interviewing the mother, reports of a shooting at the largest mosque in San Diego County came in.
As police arrived, gunshots were heard a few blocks away where a landscaper was shot at but uninjured. The shooters, ages 17 and 18, were found dead in a vehicle stopped in the middle of a road nearby, with apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Hate Crime Investigation
Wahl stated the shooting is being investigated as a hate crime. There was no specific threat against the Islamic Center, but authorities found evidence that the suspects engaged in “generalized hate rhetoric.” He declined to share more details immediately.
Victims and Heroic Security Guard
The victims' names have not been released. One victim was a mosque security guard who “played a pivotal role” in preventing more casualties. “It’s fair to say his actions were heroic,” Wahl said. “Undoubtedly he saved lives today.” Two other men were also killed.
Mosque and Community Response
Imam Taha Hassane, the mosque’s director, said the center focuses on interfaith relations. Earlier Monday, a group of non-Muslims had been touring the mosque to learn about Islam. The white mosque is surrounded by homes, apartments, and strip malls with Middle Eastern restaurants and markets. It houses the Al Rashid School, offering Arabic, Islamic studies, and Quran courses for students aged 5 and up. No students were harmed, and aerial TV footage showed school children holding hands as they were led out of the parking lot surrounded by police vehicles.
