UMVA has learned that a frantic mother reached out to police hours before a tragic gun attack ripped through a San Diego mosque, pleading that her son had vanished and was suicidal.
When officers arrived at the Islamic Center of San Diego, they found three victims sprawled on the sidewalk, their lives snuffed out in an instant. Within minutes, a frantic search led them to a parked car where the teenage gunmen, ages 17 and 19, lay dead from self‑inflicted wounds.
Investigators quickly pieced together a chilling portrait: the older teen had fled his home after his mother reported missing weapons and a vanished vehicle, while the younger was spotted in camouflage, accompanied by an acquaintance, moments before the horror unfolded.
Police chief Scott Wahl described the scene as a “generalized hate rhetoric” driven assault, noting that while no direct threat had been made against the mosque, the perpetrators’ words and actions revealed a deep‑seated animus.
Amid the chaos, a lone security guard stood as a silent shield, his swift actions preventing the carnage from spiraling even worse. His bravery left an indelible mark on the community, even as the identities of the other two victims remain private.
The mosque’s imam, Taha Hassane, expressed a mix of grief and resolve, emphasizing that the sanctuary, which welcomes up to 1,500 worshippers for Friday prayers, has never known such violence. He called for a collective awakening to the twin scourges of gun violence and Islamophobia.
City leaders vowed to reinforce protection for houses of worship, promising heightened security and a public vigil to honor the fallen. The tragedy has ignited a broader conversation about hate, safety, and the urgent need for societal change.
