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All children enrolled at the day school within the Islamic center—recognized as the largest mosque complex in the region near the U.S.-Mexico border—were confirmed safe following the shooting, authorities said. The incident unfolded just before noon local time, according to San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.
Wahl noted that the FBI has joined the investigation, with officials currently treating the case as a potential hate crime. However, investigators have not yet identified a clear motive behind the attack.
The shooting occurred days ahead of significant Islamic observances, including Eid al-Adha and the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, making the incident particularly distressing for the Muslim community.
“This is something we have never faced before,” said Taha Hassane, imam and director of the Islamic center. “Targeting a place of worship is deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”
When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, they discovered three men connected to the mosque fatally shot outside the premises. Among them was a security guard, whom officials believe may have played a crucial role in preventing further casualties.
Shortly afterward, officers located two teenage males, aged 17 and 19, inside a vehicle on a nearby street. Both were found dead from what authorities described as self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Investigation Ongoing
Details surrounding the events remain unclear as investigators continue to piece together what led to the violence. Around the same time police were responding to the mosque shooting, gunfire was also reported a few blocks away, where a landscaper was targeted but escaped unharmed. Authorities have not confirmed whether the two incidents are connected.
Police said between 50 and 100 officers responded rapidly to the initial “active shooter” call, arriving at the mosque within minutes. The site is located in the Clairemont neighborhood, a mixed residential and commercial area of San Diego.
Television footage showed a heavy police presence, including patrol vehicles surrounding the area and officers positioned with rifles both on the ground and atop the mosque building. Authorities confirmed that no shots were fired by police during the response.
The Islamic center houses the Bright Horizon Academy, a school providing Islamic education, according to its official website.
While gun violence in public spaces remains a persistent issue across the United States, religious communities—particularly Muslim and Jewish groups—have reported heightened concern in recent months. Tensions have risen following escalating conflict in the Middle East, contributing to increased fears over safety at places of worship.
Earlier this year, a separate incident in Michigan saw a man attack a synagogue before taking his own life, further intensifying concerns about targeted violence against religious institutions.
