{"id":807750,"date":"2026-05-19T15:41:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T15:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/807750\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T15:41:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T15:41:25","slug":"police-investigating-deadly-san-diego-mosque-shooting-as-hate-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/807750\/","title":{"rendered":"Police investigating deadly San Diego mosque shooting as hate crime"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Diego police launched a hate crime investigation into Monday\u2019s deadly shooting<\/a> attack at a mosque in the southern California city, with the city\u2019s police chief saying there was \u201cdefinitely hate rhetoric that was involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two teenage gunmen opened fire Monday morning at the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three men outside the mosque, one of them a security guard. Police said emergency response teams found the victims, all men, outside the sprawling complex, before later finding the shooters, aged 17 and 18, dead in a car from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are actively investigating this as a hate crime,\u201d San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told reporters. \u201cThere was definitely hate rhetoric that was involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wahl said that given the location of the attack, investigators were \u201cconsidering this a hate crime until it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n

A photograph taken by The Associated Press at the scene of the apparent suicides showed police going through the shooters\u2019 car, as a gas can branded with the Nazi \u201cSS\u201d symbol sits on the ground nearby, apparently taken from the vehicle.<\/p>\n

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Police did not specifically mention the gas can in any statement or give details on any other evidence found in the vehicle.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tA Nazi \u201cSS\u201d branded gas can is seen on the ground near the vehicle allegedly belonging to one of the teenage shooters who opened fire outside a mosque, killing three, in San Diego, California, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe received a call of an active shooter at the Islamic center. Within four minutes, officers arrived on scene and observed\u00a0immediately three deceased victims out in front,\u201d Wahl said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe immediately began to deploy with an active shooter response into the mosque and adjacent school,\u201d he said, adding that police had received calls about more gunfire nearby, where a landscaper had been shot at but not hit.<\/p>\n

According to Wahl, police were already scrambling to find two teenagers before the shooting started, after a mother of one of the teenagers reported her son was suicidal and had run away.<\/p>\n

The mother said weapons were missing from the home and her vehicle was gone, he added.<\/p>\n

The search for the missing teen intensified as law enforcement began to gather more details. Police learned he had dressed in camouflage and was with an acquaintance.<\/p>\n

Officers used automated license plate readers to track the car and went to a mall in the area. They also alerted a school where at least one of the teens had been a student and continued interviewing the mother, Wahl said.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tPeople carry weapons at the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego, May 18, 2026, in San Diego, California. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n

Two hours later, the shooting began, just blocks away from the home.<\/p>\n

Wahl said a security guard at the Islamic center was among the three victims, adding that his response had helped prevent a deadlier attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis actions were heroic, and he undoubtedly saved lives today,\u201d Wahl said.<\/p>\n

The identities of the victims were not immediately clear.<\/p>\n

Authorities planned to execute search warrants related to the investigation Tuesday as they piece together how and why the shooting unfolded. There was no specific threat made against the Islamic center, but authorities found evidence that the suspects engaged in \u201cgeneralized hate rhetoric,\u201d Wahl said.<\/p>\n

One of the shooters left a suicide note that contained writings about racial pride, and hate speech was scrawled on one of the weapons, CNN quoted unnamed law enforcement officials as saying.<\/p>\n

NBC identified the shooters as Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, citing three law enforcement officials.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tPeople embrace near the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego, Monday, May 18, 2026, in San Diego, California. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n

US President Donald Trump said the shooting was a \u201cterrible situation,\u201d and California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed horror at the attack, saying: \u201cWorshipers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith,\u201d he said on X, adding, \u201cTo the San Diego Muslim community: California stands with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups in the U.S., condemned the shooting.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school,\u201d CAIR-San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam said in a statement.<\/p>\n


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