Overview
- At the Islamic Center of San Diego in Clairemont, three adults were found shot dead outside the complex on Monday after a late-morning 11:43 a.m. alert, and two adolescent suspects were later discovered dead in a nearby car from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
- One victim was a security guard whom police said helped keep the toll from rising, and all students and staff from the on-site school were evacuated and accounted for without injuries.
- Investigators reported anti-Muslim writings in the suspects’ vehicle, hateful inscriptions on at least one weapon, and a suicide note referencing racial superiority, and the SDPD and FBI launched a joint hate-crime probe and asked the public for tips.
- Hours before the shooting, a mother reported her teenage son missing along with three firearms and a vehicle, which triggered a broader threat assessment that included checks tied to Madison High School and license plate searches.
- Officials increased patrols at houses of worship and offered victim support as local, state, and federal leaders condemned the violence, in a climate where Muslim institutions have reported more threats and bias incidents.