A horrific shooting at an Islamic centre in San Diego has left three men dead, including a heroic security guard who is credited with preventing further loss of life. The two teenage suspects later died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police confirmed.
Timeline of Events
Police responded to reports of an active shooter at the Islamic centre, which houses a mosque and primary school, at approximately 11:43 a.m. local time. Officers arrived within four minutes and discovered three adult males fatally shot in front of the mosque. Shortly thereafter, they were alerted to another shooting a few streets away, where they found the two suspects deceased in a vehicle from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
The Victims
The victims were identified as Amin Abdullah, the security guard, and two other men. Abdullah's actions were described as "pivotal" and "heroic" by San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl, who stated, "Undoubtedly, he saved lives today." Sam Hamideh, a friend of Abdullah, told CNN: "Knowing him for the past four years, I know that he knew he was sacrificing himself. If he didn't take that bullet, they [the suspects] would easily have walked upstairs, and then there's just innocent [children] eight and younger, and women and people that couldn't defend themselves." An imam at the centre confirmed that teachers, students, and other staff inside the mosque were safe and unharmed.
The Suspects
The suspects were identified as Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18. Clark attended Madison High School virtually and was set to graduate later this month. He had been a member of the school's wrestling team during the 2024/25 season. One of the suspect's mothers had alerted police that her son, firearms, and car were missing, describing him as suicidal and believed to be with a friend. Both teens were reportedly "dressed in camo" and "immediately dispatched themselves to the mosque," according to Wahl.
Motive and Investigation
Police are investigating the shooting as a hate crime, citing "hate rhetoric" and anti-Islamic writings found in the suspects' vehicle. A note left by one of the suspects is also being examined. Investigators found a shotgun and a gas can with an "SS" sticker at the scene where the suspects' bodies were located. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet determined whether the suspects were local residents or had travelled to San Diego to carry out the attack.
Broader Context of Gun Violence
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has recorded 4,764 deaths linked to shooting incidents since January 1, 2026, with over 500 of those in mass shootings—defined as incidents where four or more people are injured or killed, excluding the shooter. There have been 151 such mass shootings so far this year. In California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,768 homicides in 2024, a rate of 4.5 per 100,000 people.
