Two suspect teenagers killed three people at the Islamic Center Of San Diego on Monday, May 18, before shooting themselves dead. A security guard at the mosque was among those killed. A suspected hate crime case is being investigated, said Police Chief Scott Wahl.
Two hours before the shooting incident, the mother of one of the suspects called the police to file a missing complaint about her son. She feared he might be suicide after she realised several of her weapons were missing from home, along with her vehicle, said Wahl during a media briefing. Law enforcement officials identified the shooters as Cain Clark (17) and Caleb Vazquez (18).
Also Read | US tightens curbs after American citizen tests positive for Ebola.
The Islamic Centre is the largest mosque in San Diego County, according to its website. It’s about 9 miles (15 kilometres) north of downtown San Diego.
The suspect was wearing camouflage (materials that soldiers use) to mislead the police. He was in the company of an acquaintance. Anti-Islam writings were found inside the vehicle used by two teenagers. However, officers began using whatever technology they had available to locate the teens, including automated license plate readers.
Wahl said that’s when police began getting reports of a shooting at 9.42 AM on Monday morning (US local time). Law enforcement officers reached the spot immediately and found three victims at the mosque and the two teens dead of apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a vehicle nearby.
Islamic Center Of San Diego, Imam Taha Hassane said at a news conference that “all the places of worship in our beautiful city should always be protected.”