Three people were killed in a shooting at a mosque in San Diego, California, Monday, with two teenage suspects found dead nearby shortly afterwards and police saying they are treating the incident as a possible hate crime.
One of the suspects has since been named as high schooler Cain Clark, 17, and investigators have reported finding a Nazi symbol, anti-Islamic writing, and a weapon inscribed with the words “hate speech” in the BMW in which their bodies were discovered.
The attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego took place after the mother of one of the suspects had called police to say her son had run away with a friend, taking multiple weapons with them and wearing camouflage, warning he could be suicidal.
When a shooting was subsequently reported at the mosque compound, officers arrived to find three dead, one of whom was a security guard who, they said, had bravely attempted to intervene.
After further shots were fired at a landscape gardener, police found the two suspects, 17 and 18, unresponsive in their car.
The FBI is assisting the San Diego Police Department with its investigation and President Donald Trump has been briefed, calling it a “terrible situation.”
Key Points
- Three killed, two suspects found dead in shooting at San Diego mosque
- First suspect named as 17-year-old Cain Clark
- ‘Heroic’ security guard killed in suspected hate crime was father of eight
- Mother of suspect warned of 'runaway juvenile' and stolen weapons before attack
- Govenor Newsom: 'Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives'
‘Heroic’ security guard killed in suspected hate crime was father of eight
12:40 , Joe SommerladThe “hero” security guard killed in yesterday’s attack has been named as Amin Abdullah, a father of eight.
Abdullah was identified by a fundraising campaign for his family, organized by both the Islamic Center and the San Diego chapter of CAIR, and has already raised more than $1.4 million.
“He wasn’t just a guard,” the LaunchGood page reads.
“He was the first face of that community to anyone who came through the door – and the last line of defense when it mattered most.”
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said of him yesterday: “His actions were heroic and he undoubtedly saved lives today.”
Amin Abdullah.
— LaunchGood (@LaunchGood) May 19, 2026
He stood his ground so others could make it home safely.
When gunmen opened fire outside the Islamic Center of San Diego, Amin protected the community until his final moments. Police say his actions prevented the attack from becoming far worse.
Support Amin’s… pic.twitter.com/2er0Xld0Rl
Congressional candidate says he has known one of the victims since he was six years old
12:30 , Joe SommerladCalifornia Democratic contender Ammar Campa-Najjar revealed a personal connection to Monday’s tragedy in an interview with CNN last night.
I’ve known one of the victims killed today at ICSD since I was 6. Muslims love America, even when America doesn’t love them back.
— Ammar Campa-Najjar (@ACampaNajjar) May 19, 2026
Islamophobia is on the rise. The school shooters illegally accessing firearms proves we need stricter gun laws.
Uncle should still be here. We have… pic.twitter.com/EZzrVRriGU
CAIR demands end to anti-Muslim ‘campaign of hate’ after mosque attack
12:00 , Joe SommerladThe Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., has issued this statement on Monday’s tragic events:
“We are deeply disturbed, but not at all surprised, to learn that those who attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego were reportedly motivated by anti-Muslim hate.
“Hate against American Muslims is completely out of control. Numerous politicians have spent the past year claiming that all ‘mainstream Muslims’ should be destroyed, that American mosques and elementary schools should be shut down, and that American Muslims should be expelled from our nation.
“Just last week, House Republicans held a congressional hearing to fan the flames of hate against American Muslims, their houses of worship and even Muslim school children.
“A deadly attack on an American mosque was as predictable as it is unacceptable. Anti-Muslim hatred is one of the last acceptable forms of bigotry in American society, and it is long past time for the tolerance of this hate to end.”
Zohran Mamdani: ‘We must confront Islamophobia directly and stand together’
11:30 , Joe SommerladNew York City’s mayor, himself a Muslim, had this to say in response to yesterday’s attack in California:
I am horrified by the deadly attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, an apparent act of anti-Muslim violence.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) May 18, 2026
Islamophobia endangers Muslim communities across this country. We must confront it directly and stand together against the politics of fear and division. My thoughts…
Could the Trump administration be doing more to protect religious groups?
11:00 , Josh MarcusMonday’s shooting is being investigated as an anti-Muslim hate attack, and it comes on the heels of other religiously motivated violence, including a firebombing against Jewish marchers in Colorado last year.
The Trump administration has directed funds towards protecting religious institutions, handing out $204 million in grants to a variety of faith groups for security improvements and training.
However, Monday’s shooting could underscore the need for further protections.
The Islamic Center of San Diego had a security guard on site, who police say was killed in the attack but stopped the shooting from being worse.
Trump responds to mosque shooting: ‘Terrible situation’
10:30 , Josh MarcusThis is what President Donald Trump had to say at the White House yesterday when asked about the tragedy in San Diego.
President Trump on the San Diego mosque shooting: "They're giving a briefing on it... It's a terrible situation. I've been given some early updates, but we're going to be going back and looking at it very strongly." pic.twitter.com/NFeLFqZQXa
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 18, 2026
What does the SS sticker mean?
10:00 , Joe SommerladThe “SS” sticker seen on the red gas canister retrieved from the suspects’ white BMW represents the Schutzstaffel, the paramilitary organization founded in 1925 and led by Heinrich Himmler under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime in Germany.
The SS initially served as Hitler’s personal bodyguard but grew into a massive force and instrument of state terror, composed of zealots who shared the Fuhrer’s belief in the supremacy of the Aryan race.
Breaking: Suspect in mosque shooting named as Cain Clark
09:30 , Joe SommerladLaw enforcement sources speaking to NBC, The New York Post and other outlets have named one of the deceased suspects in the case as 17-year-old Cain Clark.
Photos of one of the two shooting suspects, 17-year-old Cain Clark, were released on Monday night. Check here for live updates. https://t.co/kkNpCKWObg
— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) May 19, 2026
Clark reportedly attended Madison High School and was a member of its wrestling team and was scheduled to graduate this month.
His grandfather David told the Post: “We’re very sorry for what happened. We know as much as you do. It’s a shock.”
A picture has also emerged of the white BMW in which the suspects were found deceased, which had a red gas canister inside bearing a Nazi SS sticker (see below), alongside a weapon with the words “hate speech” inscribed upon it.
Note could hold key to uncovering suspects' motive
09:00 , Josh MarcusOne of the suspects in Monday’s shooting left a note that his mother later found, according to police.
“She found some note from him,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told reporters. “What that note looks like, what that note says, I’m not going to disclose right now.”
The note discussed “racial pride,” CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources.
Ahead of Monday’s shooting, the mother tipped off police earlier in the day about a “runaway juvenile,” police said. She was concerned the teen was suicidal, and said he left with a companion who was wearing camo clothing.
Recap: Three killed, two suspects found dead in shooting at San Diego mosque
08:48 , Joe SommerladIf you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:
- Three people were killed, one of whom was a security guard, in a gun attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday.
- Two male teen suspects, aged 17 and 18, were also found dead in a parked car nearby shortly afterwards.
- The mother of one of the suspects had tipped off police shortly before the shooting started by reporting that her son and a friend had runaway bearing multiple weapons and wearing camouflage clothing, warning he could be suicidal.
- Officers arriving in the area responded to a shooting report at the mosque and found the three dead.
- After receiving calls about further shots fired at a landscape gardener, police found the two suspects, 17 and 18, unresponsive in a parked car.
- Investigators also reportedly found anti-Islamic writing in the vehicle and the words “hate speech” written on a weapon used in the attack.
- The FBI is working with the San Diego Police Department on their investigation and President Donald Trump has called the incident a “terrible situation.”
What we know about the suspects in Monday's mosque shooting in San Diego
07:59 , Josh Marcus
San Diego mosque shooting: 5 dead, including 2 teen suspects, as motive investigated
Neighbor saw security guard hit by two shots: 'It was very brave'
07:00 , Josh MarcusA resident who lives near the Islamic Center of San Diego saw a mosque security guard get shot on Monday, one of three victims of the shooting.
Vanessa Chavez, 46, who lives across the street from the religious complex, told The New York Times she saw the guard, who was wearing a tactical vest, get hit by at least two gunshots. She said he fell then got up and went inside the center.
“Now seeing that he lost his life, it was very brave of him,” Chavez said.
Police have credited the guard with preventing further loss of life.
ICYMI: Fatal shooting at mosque rocks San Diego community
06:00 , Josh MarcusPolice are trying to piece together a motive for a midday Monday shooting outside a mosque in San Diego that killed three victims and left two teenage suspects dead nearby from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
"It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” Imam Taha Hassane, director of the center, said during a press conference. “Our Islamic center is a place of worship. People come to the Islamic center to pray, to celebrate, to learn.”
The names of the suspects have not yet been released. Investigators found anti-Islamic writings inside the suspects’ car, two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News, and officials have disclosed they are investigating the shooting as a hate crime.
One of the suspects took a gun from his parents’ home and left a suicide note that included writings about racial pride, law enforcement officials told CNN. Those officials also said that hate speech was written on one of the firearms used in the attack.
The names of the victims have not been released either. Police have said one was a security guard at the center who “played a pivotal role” in preventing more deaths.
At least one killed during ‘active shooter’ at San Diego Islamic center: report
PHOTOS: Police continue to investigate tragic mosque shooting
05:00 , Josh Marcus
What has Gavin Newsom said about Monday's shooting?
04:36 , Josh MarcusCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom is one of the many state officials who expressed their condolences after Monday’s shooting outside a mosque in San Diego.
“Jennifer and I are horrified by today's violent attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where families and children gather, and neighbors worship in peace and fellowship,” Newsom said in a statement on X. “Today, this community space was shattered by gunfire.”
“California sends our deepest condolences to the families and communities impacted by today’s shooting,” he added. “Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives. Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith.”
The Democratic governor also accused conservative Fox News host Sean Hannity of downplaying the tragedy during his Monday-night broadcast, which touched on the shooting and implied without evidence the suspects might be undocumented immigrants.
DHS secretary blames government shutdown for delay in security grants to houses of worship
04:06 , Josh MarcusThe partisan battle lines around Monday’s shooting may already be emerging.
Speaking with Fox News on Monday night, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin took aim at Democrats, blaming the government shutdown, which aimed to impose new conditions on the department amid the Trump immigration crackdown, of slowing the pace of security grants for houses of worship.
“We work together all the time to work with these religious establishments, and we have FEMA grants they can use to help protect themselves,” Mullin said. “Unfortunately for the last 76 days, we were shut down so we're just now getting those grants out.”
Mosque hit with shooting will be closed for time being
03:36 , Josh MarcusThe Islamic Center of San Diego will be closed until further notice after Monday’s shooting, the mosque wrote on its website.
“We ask our community to keep the victims, their families, and all those affected in your prayers,” the center wrote in a statement. “This has been an extremely painful and traumatic day for our congregation, students, staff, and the broader San Diego community.”
Protester claims shooting is a 'direct result' of mayor's leadership
03:06 , Josh Marcus
A protester cut in and began to berate San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria as he was set to update the public about Monday’s shooting outside a mosque.
“This is a f***ing direct result of your leadership!” the heckler said. “Your leadership! Our Muslim brothers and sisters have been talking to you for how long?!”
The activist appeared to be criticizing the mayor’s stance on Israel and ICE.
In March, the city formally adopted a definition of antisemitism that, among other things, equates criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism. The definition is in wide use by institutions and governments, though critics allege it stifles legitimate anti-Israel protest.
In January, activists barricaded themselves inside Gloria’s office protesting ICE.
City police do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, according to Gloria, who has criticized the immigration agency’s tactics under President Trump.
Officials from both parties condemn hate crime shooting outside San Diego mosque
02:36 , Josh Marcus
Officials in Washington came together with rare bipartisan agreement to condemn Monday’s shooting, which is being investigated as a hate crime.
“Heartbroken to hear about the senseless shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego in California,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, wrote on X. “My heart goes out to all the victims and their families. As Americans, we must stand firmly together rejecting the senseless killing of people of faith. We truly live in dangerous and sick times.”
“Devastated by the horrific attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego,” Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar said in a statement. “There is no place for anti-Muslim hate in America. We must confront this violence and protect the right to worship safely. My prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.”
Landscaper targeted in shooting is 'going to be OK'
02:00 , Josh MarcusThe two teen gunman who allegedly targeted an Islamic center in San Diego left the scene and then shot at a landscaper nearby, according to police.
The gardener is “going to be OK,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told reporters on Monday evening.
Police believe a bullet may have ricocheted off the worker’s helmet, sparing him from injury.
Mother of suspect warned of 'runaway juvenile' and stolen weapons before shooting
01:39 , Josh MarcusThe mother of one of the suspects in Monday’s shooting warned police her son might be suicidal and had taken several of her weapons and her vehicle, according to officials.
Police got a tip from the woman Monday morning about the “runaway juvenile,” San Diego police chief Scott Wahl told reporters.
She told police her son left with a companion, and that both were dressed in camouflage.
Police were sent to San Diego’s Fashion Valley Mall after license plate readers suggested the individuals were there.
Officers were speaking with the woman when the shooting outside the mosque was reported.
NYC mayor Mamdani condemns 'anti-Muslim' attack as NYPD ups patrols
01:20 , Josh MarcusNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, one of the country’s most prominent Muslim leaders, said he was shocked by Monday’s shooting at a mosque in San Diego.
“I am horrified by the deadly attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, an apparent act of anti-Muslim violence,” he wrote on X. “Islamophobia endangers Muslim communities across this country. We must confront it directly and stand together against the politics of fear and division. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire community grieving this devastating attack.”
The NYPD has stepped up patrols outside mosques in the city in the wake of today’s shooting, Mamdani added.
Suspect's suicide note spoke of bigoted ideas: CNN
01:00 , Josh MarcusPolice are reportedly learning more about the motive behind Monday’s shooting outside a San Diego mosque, which investigators are treating as a hate crime.
Hate speech was written on one of the weapons used in the attack, law enforcement sources told CNN.
One of the suspects also allegedly took a firearm from their parents’ home and left a suicide note with writings about “racial pride,” the sources told the broadcaster.
Suspects had anti-Islamic writing: report
Tuesday 19 May 2026 00:45 , Josh MarcusInvestigators found anti-Islamic writings in a vehicle associated with the shooting suspects, law enforcement officials told The New York Times.
Prior to the shooting, the sources said, one of the suspects took a firearm from his parents’ house and left a suicide note.
The words ‘hate speech’ were written on one of the guns used in the attack, per the paper.
Police hunt for teen suspects’ motive in San Diego Islamic Center shooting
Tuesday 19 May 2026 00:25 , Josh MarcusPolice are investigating why two teenagers allegedly attempted to carry out a shooting at a San Diego mosque then fled and died by self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Officials have not publicly named the individuals, described a motive, and specified what weapons were used in the shooting.
Here is everything we know so far.
San Diego mosque shooting: 5 dead, including 2 teen suspects, as motive investigated
Calls for tolerance after shooting outside mosque
Tuesday 19 May 2026 00:10 , Josh MarcusPolitical and religious leaders condemned Monday’s shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego.
"It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” Imam Taha Hassane, director of the center, said during a press conference this afternoon. “Our Islamic center is a place of worship. People come to the Islamic center to pray, to celebrate, to learn. Not only Muslims, but we have people from all walks of life. Just this morning, earlier, a group of people, non-Muslims, came to learn about our faith and our cultures. So this is something that we have never expected. And I would also like to thank all the people who contacted us from all over the country and even from overseas, to give condolences and to ask if there is anything they can do."
Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs, whose district includes San Diego, had a similar message after the shooting.
“We don't have any details about a potential motive yet, but I'm devastated for those students, worshippers, and the Clairemont community,” she wrote on X. “Everyone should be able to pray, worship, and learn in peace.”
PHOTOS: Police investigate mosque shooting in San Diego that left three victims, two gunmen dead
Monday 18 May 2026 23:50 , Josh Marcus
Trump condemns 'terrible' shooting
Monday 18 May 2026 23:30 , Josh Marcus
President Trump has made brief remarks about Monday’s shooting, as the FBI assists local police in investigating the tragedy.
“It's a terrible situation,” Trump said at an unrelated healthcare-related event on Monday. “I've been given some early updates, but we're going to be going back and looking at it very strongly."
Feds assist with investigation into San Diego shooting
Monday 18 May 2026 23:10 , Josh MarcusThe FBI is on the scene at the Islamic Center of San Diego, assisting local police as they investigate today’s shooting threat.
“All resources will be made available assisting local partners and we will update the public as we’re able,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X.
“The FBI is meticulously assessing the situation and is prepared to employ every resource we have to uncover the facts of this incident,” San Diego-based FBI special agent in charge Mark Remily told reporters on Monday. “No community should have to go through such a tragic incident, but we will work tirelessly until we learn the truth.”
How will the Trump administration handle a major hate crime shooting?
03:46 , Josh MarcusA key line to watch today will be how the Trump administration responds to the Monday mosque shooting in San Diego.
On the campaign trail and then in office, Donald Trump has spoken frequently about how people of faith and political leaders alike are under threat of rising violence.
Typically, however, the president has spoken about cases where individuals aligned with the left have targeted GOP candidates, or when Christian institutions have come under fire.
The president has long expressed outward animus towards Muslims, seeking to ban travel and refugee settlement into the U.S. from mostly Muslim countries during his first term.
Why political violence has spiked in the Trump era and what can be done to stop it
Officials probe for hate crime motive in shooting
Monday 18 May 2026 22:50 , Josh MarcusPolice are investigating Monday’s shooting threat at a San Diego-area mosque as a potential hate crime.
“Because of the Islamic Center location, we are considering this a hate crime until it's not,” San Diego police chief Scott Wahl told reporters on Monday. “And at this point we're going to work closely with the FBI to make sure that we are matching all the resources that we need for this investigation.”
Chief praises 'dynamic and impressive' police response
Monday 18 May 2026 22:32 , Josh Marcus
San Diego leaders praised police for their swift response to Monday’s mosque shooting threat.
Officers responded to calls about an active shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego within four minutes.
After arriving, police flooded the compound with officers, where at one point up to 100 officers were busy inside the center clearing rooms and escorting out children and staff.
As police arrived, the SDPD got calls about gunfire nearby.
A contingent of officers headed a few blocks away from the mosque and found the two suspects in the shooting dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
“This is the most dynamic and impressive response that I have ever seen in policing,” San Diego police chief Scott Wahl told reporters on Monday.
Chief praises 'dynamic and impressive' police response
Monday 18 May 2026 22:32 , Josh MarcusSan Diego leaders praised police for their swift response to Monday’s mosque shooting threat.
Officers responded to calls about an active shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego within four minutes.
After arriving, police flooded the compound with officers, where at one point up to 100 officers were busy inside the center clearing rooms and escorting out children and staff.
As police arrived, the SDPD got calls about gunfire nearby.
A contingent of officers headed a few blocks away from the mosque and found the two suspects in the shooting dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
“This is the most dynamic and impressive response that I have ever seen in policing,” San Diego police chief Scott Wahl told reporters on Monday.
Slain security guard stopped shooting from being 'much worse'
Monday 18 May 2026 22:18 , Josh MarcusSan Diego police credited a security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego from stopping today’s shooting from being much more severe.
The guard is one of three known victims of the shooting.
“One of the deceased is a security guard that works there and I think played a pivotal role in assisting from this being much worse,” San Diego police chief Scott Wahl told reporters on Monday.
Three killed, two suspects found dead in shooting: SDPD
Monday 18 May 2026 22:07 , Josh MarcusA total of five people are dead in connection with today’s shooting, according to police.
Upon arriving at the Islamic Center of San Diego, police encountered three dead adults, the presumed victims.
Nearby, police found two male teenagers, 17 and 19, in a car, dead of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
