Three Killed in San Diego Mosque Shooting; Teen Suspects Found Dead Nearby
SAN DIEGO — May 18, 2026 — Three men were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in the city, on Monday, May 18, authorities said. Two teenage suspects were later found dead in a vehicle near the scene from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and the attack is being investigated as a possible hate crime .
The San Diego Police Department began receiving reports of the incident at approximately 11:43 a.m. local time (18:43 GMT) at the religious complex located at 7050 Eckstrom Avenue, near Balboa Avenue in the Clairemont neighborhood . Responding officers arrived to find three adult male victims fatally shot outside the center .
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One of the deceased was identified as a security guard employed at the mosque. Police Chief Scott Wahl described the guard’s actions as “heroic,” stating that he likely helped prevent further loss of life .
Victims and Response
The identities of the victims have not yet been officially released by authorities pending family notification. Officials confirmed all three victims were adult men .
The Islamic Center campus also houses the Al Rashid School, which offers Arabic language and Islamic studies for children. Television footage from the scene showed children being escorted out of the complex by law enforcement personnel, and all students were reported to be safe and accounted for .
Police established a reunification point for families at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Hathaway Street as they worked to secure the scene . San Diego Police confirmed that the immediate threat had been “neutralised” shortly after 1:00 p.m. .
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement expressing horror at the violence and reaffirming the state’s stance against hate. “Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith,” Newsom said .
Suspects and Motive
Authorities have identified the two suspects as male teenagers, aged 17 and 18 . The younger suspect was named by a law enforcement source as 17-year-old Cain Clark . Both suspects were found deceased in a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road near the mosque, having suffered self-inflicted gunshot wounds .
The investigation began earlier in the morning. Approximately two hours before the shooting, at 9:42 a.m., police received a call from the mother of the 17-year-old suspect. She reported that her son had left home with her vehicle and several of her weapons . She expressed concerns that her son was suicidal and was accompanied by a companion, both dressed in camouflage .
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At around the same time as the mosque attack, officers also responded to reports of gunfire a few blocks away, where a landscaper was targeted. Police Chief Wahl stated that a bullet appears to have deflected off the landscaper’s helmet, saving his life .
Law enforcement officials told CNN that a suicide note left by one of the suspects contained writings about racial pride. Additionally, hate speech was scrawled on one of the weapons used in the attack . While the specific language was not immediately disclosed, officials said it contributed to the assessment that the attack is being investigated as a hate crime .
Investigation
The FBI is working alongside local law enforcement to process evidence from the scene, which includes security camera footage from the mosque . Bomb technicians cleared the vehicle where the suspects were found, and authorities are carrying out search warrants to determine the exact sequence of events .
The shooting occurred during a period of rising complaints of discrimination and bias against Muslims. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported that in 2025, the organization received 8,683 complaints across the United States, the highest number recorded since their first civil rights report in 1996 .
SOURCES / INPUTS
- CNN: Live updates – Three people killed in shooting at San Diego’s largest mosque
- RNZ: Three killed in shooting at San Diego’s largest mosque
- The Statesman: Teen suspects found dead after San Diego mosque shooting
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