On May 18, two gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego in what authorities are investigating as a white-supremacist hate crime. The attack killed three men—Amin Abdullah, a security guard; Nadir Awad; and Mansour Kaziha, a shopkeeper who called 911—before one suspect turned his weapon on his companion and then himself as police closed in. The suspects, ages 17 and 18, were found dead at the scene in the residential Clairemont neighborhood.
The Islamic Center of San Diego is San Diego County's second-largest mosque and also houses a primary school. At the time of the shooting, approximately 140 children and staff were on campus. Authorities credited emergency protocols, staff training, and coordinated response procedures with saving lives during the attack. The FBI recovered 30 guns and a crossbow from three residences associated with the teens, along with writings containing Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, and misogynistic content.
What the Right Is Saying
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria confirmed the attack is being fully investigated as a white-supremacist hate crime. He joined thousands of mourners at a public funeral prayer on Thursday, standing in solidarity with the Muslim community and the families of the victims.
Imam Taha Hassane, director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, said the center has long received hate mail and witnessed hostile behavior from passing drivers but never anticipated an active shooter situation. 'I know what's going on in the world. I have seen shootings taking place in houses of worship, schools, malls. But happening here? It never came through my mind,' he said.
Republican officials in California issued statements condemning the attack as an act of domestic terrorism targeting a house of worship. The San Diego Police Department noted that the quick response from officers and adherence to lockdown protocols by staff prevented what could have been a significantly larger loss of life.
What the Left Is Saying
Council on American-Islamic Relations San Diego Chapter representative Tazheen Nizam said the community had security measures in place but never anticipated an attack of this magnitude. 'We had one security guard. The gate was open,' she told the BBC. She noted that while places of worship prepare for worst-case scenarios, no one expects such violence to actually occur.
President of the Muslim Leadership Council of San Diego Abdullah Tahiri said at a media conference on Tuesday that he could not claim to be surprised by the attack, even while horrified. He placed blame on what he described as a heated political climate that has 'tolerated, normalised, federalised, institutionalised, routinised, and actively weaponised' anti-Muslim sentiment for years.
'When figures in the highest halls of government dehumanise Muslims, paint our institutions as threats, and treat our community with suspicion, they lay the groundwork for real-world violence we witnessed,' Tahiri said. Community members who spoke at vigils expressed hope that the tragedy would inspire change nationwide regarding gun violence. 'No child should endure that—walk by dead bodies and blood,' said Ali Alshahin, whose children attend the center's school.
What the Numbers Show
According to a Pew Research study from 2023-24, Muslims make up less than 1% of the San Diego metro area population. The Islamic Center serves as a pillar for this small but established community, bringing together new migrants, young families, and elder generations in the Clairemont neighborhood.
The FBI reported recovering 30 firearms and one crossbow from three residences associated with the teenage suspects. Investigators found written materials containing Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, and misogynistic content that authorities say demonstrates radicalization online. The suspects have not been publicly named by law enforcement due to their ages.
Approximately 140 children and staff were on campus at the time of the shooting. Three adults were killed. The school semester was ended early following the attack, though daily prayers resumed two days after the shooting. A makeshift memorial has been established in front of the center's gates.
The Bottom Line
The Islamic Center of San Diego reopened for daily prayers two days after the shooting, though administrative offices and school facilities remain closed pending investigation. Community leaders have emphasized that they will not be intimidated and plan to continue serving as a welcoming institution.
Funeral services were held May 21 at La Vista Memorial Park in National City. The victims—Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad, and Mansour Kaziha—have been described by community members as individuals who saved lives during the attack. Abdullah's daughter Hawaa Abdullah said her father would want the community to 'be better' regardless of differences.
Investigations by the FBI and local authorities continue into the motives and background of the suspects. The case is being prosecuted as a hate crime, with officials noting that extremist ideologies appear to have played a role in the attack.