Three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Two teen suspects were found dead in a car near the mosque. Follow live.
Skip next section What you need to know about San Diego mosque shooting 05/19/2026 May 19, 2026 What you need to know about San Diego mosque shooting Dmytro Hubenko Editor We will now be closing our live blog on the San Diego mosque shooting.
Here is a recapitulation of events: Two gunmen aged 17 and 18 carried out a shooting attack at the Islamic Center in the southern Californian city of San Diego on Monday, killing three men and then themselves The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime, with the two suspects reported by police to have engaged in "generalized hate rhetoric" Among the three victims was a mosque security guard, whose response was described by police as "heroic" Students at the school housed in the center were reportedly unharmed Local police chief Scott Wahl said the two shooters died of apparently self-inflicted gunwounds and that no officer was involved in their deaths You can read a full-length account of the deadly incident in San Diego .
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The shooting claimed the lives of three people, one of whom was a security guard who had a "pivotal role" in preventing a bigger disaster, San Diego's police chief Scott Wahl said.
Within the Center is also the Al Rashid School, which offers Arabic courses, as well as Islamic studies and Quran classes for students aged five or older.
Children could be seen leaving the area during the commotion, with Wahl later saying all kids in the compound were safe.
The Center's mosque holds prayers five times a day, as well as other events, with it also welcoming people of other faiths.
"They've always opened their doors, even to people who aren't Muslim, they invite people to Ramadan dinners," local resident Josie-Ana Edenshaw who has been attending the Islamic Center for three years, told the Associated Press agency.
"What that note looks like, what that note says, I’m not going to disclose right now," Wahl said.
"We do believe the security guard was able to help at least minimize the situation to the front area of the mosque," he said.
The chief said officials were still working to establish whether or not the security guard engaged the suspects.
She said her firearms and car were missing, and that her son was suicidal and likely with another friend.
"Our threat management unit began to take the tips and leads that we had and utilize the technology we have available to us," Wahl said.
The two suspects in the shooting, both teenagers, were later found dead in a car nearby.
According to the officials, one of the suspects also left a suicide note containing references to racial pride.
“We strongly condemn this horrifying act of violence at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this attack," CAIR said in a statement. "No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school." The mosque plays an active role in building bridges within the local community, local imam Taha Hassane said during a press conference, adding that a group of non-Muslims were given a tour of the mosque as part of efforts to promote a better understanding of Islam .
"All of the kids are safe," Wahl said, sending condolences to the families that are "being notified of what has happened to their loved ones." According to aerial TV footage, more than a dozen children were escorted outside the center's parking lot, while parents were directed to a nearby area to pick them up.
The Islamic Center's website says it offers programs for students as young as five years old.
As officials were responding to the situation at the mosque at around 11:43 a.m. PT (18:43 GMT), authorities were also informed about gunfire a few blocks away.
A landscaper was fired at, but wasn't hit , Wahl said.
"Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith." Newsom ended the statement by turning to the state's Muslim community.
"California stands with you," he said.
"Because of the Islamic Center location, we are considering this a hate crime until it’s not," Wahl said.
Three men were killed in the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, one of whom was a security guard who played a "pivotal role" in preventing a much worse outcome , according to Wahl.
The two suspects, believed to be 17 and 19 years old, appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, Wahl said.
The pair were found dead in a car nearby.
A special agent in charge of FBI San Diego said that the two suspects in the shooting were found dead inside a vehicle that was stopped in the middle of the road, near the scene.
Wahl said the two suspected shooters were teenagers, believed to be 17 and 19 years old, and died from what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
"Both suspects in this case are deceased," he said.
Wahl said that officers responding to the incident were informed of reports of gunfire several blocks away, where a landscaper was shot at but was uninjured .
They added that one of the victims was a security guard of the Islamic Center. According to US media reports, the other two were employees.
"We have three confirmed adults that are deceased at the Islamic Center," San Diego Police Department Chief Scott Wahl said.
All three of the victims were males, Wahl said. He stressed that all children that were in the complex at the time of the incident are safe.
