At least three people were killed after a shooting at a mosque in San Diego, California, on Monday.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said that three male adults were found dead outside the Islamic Center of San Diego after two suspects opened fire.
Wahl said that the two male suspects were found dead inside a nearby car from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Law enforcement has identified the suspects as Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, NBC News reported.
Clark was a student at Madison High School and a standout wrestler, according to the New York Post, which cited the school’s social media page. The Daily Beast has reached out to the Madison High School wrestling team for comment.
Wahl said that officers received a call about an active shooter at the mosque, the largest in the county, around 11:43 a.m. on Monday. Authorities arrived on scene within four minutes and observed three victims out front.
Wahl said that among the three victims was a security guard who “played a pivotal role” in preventing further harm.
Vanessa Chavez, who lives across the street from the mosque, said she saw the guard—who was wearing a tactical vest—get shot at least twice, the New York Times reported. He fell, then got up and went inside. “Now seeing that he lost his life, it was very brave of him,” Chavez said.
Wahl added: “I think it’s fair to say his actions were heroic, and undoubtedly he saved lives today.”
Wahl said officers immediately deployed with an active shooter response into the mosque and adjacent school, but did not encounter the suspects inside the building. He added that the children at the school were safe.
A couple of blocks away, officers were also dispatched to another call about active gunfire around the same time. Officials said a landscaper was shot at, but not struck by the gunfire.
Moments later, officers were called to a location nearby, where they found a vehicle in which the suspects were found dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
According to the Times, investigators found anti-Islamic writing in the car. Two law enforcement officials also told the paper that one suspect had taken a gun from his parents’ house and had left a suicide note. One of the guns used had the words “hate speech” written on it, according to the outlet.
In a follow-up press conference Monday afternoon, Wahl said the 911 call about the mosque came in while authorities were acting on an earlier call from a mother who said her son, her weapons, and her vehicle were missing. He and a companion were also dressed in camo, she said.
The police chief said they would be “considering it a hate crime until it’s not.”
The San Diego branch of the FBI commented on the situation in a post on X, saying it was “aware of an active shooter incident at the Islamic Center of San Diego and is assisting our law enforcement partners and is assessing the situation.”
FBI Director Kash Patel also added in a post that the agency would update the public soon and that “all resources will be made available assisting local partners.”
The Daily Beast reached out to the SDPD for comment.
The center’s imam, Taha Hassanen, shared a video on Facebook assuring parents that “the entire school is safe, all the kids, all the staff and the teachers are safe.”
