San diego: Five people are dead after a shooting at an Islamic center in San Diego. Two teenage gunmen opened fire inside a mosque in San Diego, California, killing three people before committing suicide.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident occurred late yesterday morning at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in the city, located in the Claremont neighborhood. Authorities discovered three bodies outside the building: one mosque security guard and two mosque staff members. The two male gunmen, aged 17 and 19, were found dead inside a car nearby, having apparently committed suicide.
Local media reported that two hours prior to the attack, the mother of the 17-year-old suspect contacted police to report that her son had left home with a friend, both wearing camouflage uniforms. She also informed police that three firearms and her car were missing, initially fearing that her son might have attempted suicide. Police later found a letter left by the suspect along with messages on the firearms, which, although not specifically targeting a mosque, expressed hateful and anti-Muslim sentiments.
The shooting prompted the immediate lockdown of a nearby kindergarten-to-middle school. Rescue workers managed to safely evacuate all students and staff. The San Diego Police Chief commended the actions of the security guard who died, noting that his efforts helped prevent the situation from escalating further.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria condemned the incident and ordered an increase in police security around all religious sites in the city. The San Diego Police Department and the FBI are working together on the investigation, focusing on potential hate crimes and issues of racial and religious discrimination.