San Diego Mosque Shooting: Three Killed in Hate Crime Attack at Islamic Center

What Happened

On May 18, 2026, a deadly shooting occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD) — the largest mosque in San Diego, California. Two teenage males fatally shot three men, including a security guard and two staff members, outside the mosque before both shooters died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The Attack Unfolds

Authorities responded to a report of an active shooter at the Islamic Center at 11:43 a.m. Officers arrived four minutes later and found three men dead in front of the mosque. One of the men was a security guard whom Police Chief Scott Wahl described as "pivotal" in preventing further bloodshed. "At this point, I think it's fair to say his actions were heroic," Wahl said. "Undoubtedly, he saved lives today."

Warning Signs Ignored Before the Attack

About two hours before the shooting was reported, police received a call from the mother of one of the suspects, who reported her son and vehicle missing alongside several of her weapons. The mother said her son was suicidal and was with a companion — both dressed in camouflage — which triggered a "larger threat assessment picture." 

Who Were the Suspects?

Authorities are investigating what led a 17-year-old homeschooled wrestler and an 18-year-old to allegedly open fire on San Diego's largest mosque, killing three people in what police have called a hate crime. The suspects were found dead in a car on a street close to the mosque with apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

As part of their investigation, authorities are looking at hate speech scrawled on one of the weapons used in the attack, and a suicide note that contained writings about racial pride.

Investigated as a Hate Crime

"Because of the Islamic centre location, we are considering this a hate crime until it's not," Wahl told reporters at a news conference.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a statement that the shooting occurred amid record-high complaints of bias and discrimination against Muslims, noting that 2025 saw the highest number of such complaints in a single year since CAIR began reporting in 1996.

Community Reaction

The Islamic Center of San Diego said it would be closed until further notice as its community mourns the attack. "This has been an extremely painful and traumatic day for our congregation, students, staff, and the broader San Diego community," the center said in a statement.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said that "hate has no place" in the city, while the mosque's imam, Taha Hassane, called it "extremely outrageous to target a place of worship."

Federal Response

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which also responded to the scene, said it is committing all necessary resources to support the investigation. The New York Police Department also announced the deployment of additional officers to mosques across New York City in response to the attack. 

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