UNITED STATES — A shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego in southern California killed three people on Monday, May 18, 2026.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated that emergency response teams discovered the victims outside the complex before locating two suspected teenage gunmen dead in a vehicle from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Okay News reports that San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said investigators are treating the incident as a hate crime due to the presence of hate rhetoric. The suspects were identified as an 18 year old and a 17 year old who were found a few blocks from the center.
Wahl noted that a security guard was among the three deceased victims and credited the guard with preventing further casualties. He said, “His actions were heroic, and he undoubtedly saved lives today.”
The mother of one suspect contacted the San Diego Police Department two hours before the attack to report that her son was suicidal and that her vehicle and several weapons were missing. Officers initially deployed to a high school associated with the suspect before receiving reports of the shooting at the mosque.
Imam Taha Hassane of the Islamic Center of San Diego confirmed that all staff, teachers, and children at the mosque school remained safe. He said, “We have never experienced tragedy like this before. And at this moment, all that I can say is, sending our prayers and standing in solidarity with all the families in our community here.”
President Donald Trump described the shooting as a “terrible situation” while New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani termed the attack an act of anti-Muslim violence. California Governor Gavin Newsom stated on X that the state would not tolerate acts of terror against communities of faith.
The New York Police Department is increasing deployments to mosques as a precautionary measure following the event.
