Three people were killed in a shooting at a mosque complex in southern California on Monday, while two teenage suspects were later found dead inside a vehicle from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police said.
The shooting took place at the Islamic Centre of San Diego, which describes itself as the largest mosque in San Diego County.
Police said emergency responders found three victims outside the mosque complex before discovering the two suspects, aged 17 and 18, dead in a nearby car.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said authorities are investigating the attack as a hate crime.
“There was definitely hate rhetoric that was involved,” Wahl told reporters.
Television footage showed heavily armed response teams outside the mosque complex, while nearby residents were briefly advised to remain indoors during the police operation.
Security guard among victims
Police said a security guard at the mosque was among those killed.
“His actions were heroic and he undoubtedly saved lives today,” Wahl said.
The identities of the other two victims were not immediately released.
Authorities also said a landscaper nearby was shot at but not injured.
The suspects were found inside a vehicle a few blocks from the mosque.
“The suspects at this point appear to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. There were no officers involved in firing their weapons,” Wahl said.
Suspect identified
One of the suspects was identified by law enforcement sources and police dispatch audio as 17-year-old Cain Clark.
According to police, Clark’s mother contacted authorities about two hours before the attack, reporting that her son was suicidal and missing along with her vehicle and three firearms.
She also told police that Clark was with another individual and that both were dressed in camouflage clothing.
Wahl said the number of weapons taken from the home raised concerns that the teenager could pose a threat to others.
Clark had attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts before later enrolling in online education, according to the San Diego Unified School District.
District spokesperson James Canning said Clark was still eligible to participate in activities at Madison High School, where he competed on the wrestling team, although he did not participate this year.
Canning said Clark had been on track to graduate and had no significant disciplinary history.
A former teammate told CNN he never heard Clark express Islamophobic or racially motivated views.
Rising anti-Muslim discrimination
The attack comes amid growing concern over anti-Muslim discrimination in the United States.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it received 8,683 anti-Muslim discrimination complaints last year — the highest number since the organization began tracking such incidents in 1996.
CAIR said complaints have sharply increased since the start of the Gaza war in 2023.
Police said a suicide note recovered from one of the suspects contained writings about racial pride, although there was no direct threat against the mosque mentioned in the note.
CAIR’s San Diego chapter condemned what it described as a “horrifying act of violence.”
“No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school,” said Tazheen Nizam, executive director of CAIR-San Diego.
Leaders condemn attack
Imam Taha Hassane said all staff members, teachers and children at the mosque’s school were safe.
“We have never experienced tragedy like this before,” he said. “It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship.”
US President Donald Trump described the shooting as a “terrible situation.”
Meanwhile, Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of a major American city, called the attack “an apparent act of anti-Muslim violence.”
“Islamophobia endangers Muslim communities across this country,” he wrote on X, adding that police presence around mosques in New York City had been increased as a precaution.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also condemned the attack.
“Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives,” he wrote on X. “Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith.”