The two teenage suspects in the gun attack on a San Diego mosque shared a broad hatred of multiple religions and racial groups, authorities have said.
Five people, including the two attackers, died in the deadly violence on Monday.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the attack, but San Diego's police chief stated the violence was being investigated as a possible hate crime.
The suspects were found dead of apparent self-inflicted wounds in a vehicle blocks away from the mosque, police said.
Here is what we know.
What was the timeline of the attack?
Authorities said they responded to a report of an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego at 11:43 local time on Monday.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated officers arrived four minutes later and found three men dead outside the mosque.
While officers began active shooter protocols, they received another call that shots had been fired nearby from a vehicle at a landscaper; fortunately, the landscaper was unharmed.
Earlier that morning, the mother of one of the attackers had called police around 09:40 local time to report that her son had run away with her firearms and her car, indicating he might be suicidal and could be with a friend. She mentioned he was dressed in camouflage.
Less than a quarter of a mile away, authorities later found the two suspects, aged 17 and 18, dead of self-inflicted wounds in a vehicle.
Who were the victims?
The three victims have been identified as Amin Abdullah, Nader Awad, and Mansour Kaziha, according to a spokeswoman from the Council on American-Islamic Relations-San Diego (Cair-SD), Tazheen Nizam.
Abdullah was a security guard at the mosque and a father of eight, credited with stopping the attack from being far worse.
It's fair to say [Abdullah's] actions were heroic, Wahl said. Undoubtedly, he saved lives today.
A family friend indicated that Abdullah was well-known at the mosque and had worked there for over a decade. His actions have been referred to as those of a hero and a martyr.
The children of Awad grew up in the mosque, and his wife teaches at the school's facility within it. Kaziha was responsible for maintaining the mosque's grounds and convenience store.
What do we know about the attackers?
Authorities have not yet released the names of the suspects, who are believed to be 17 and 18 years old. In their investigations, more than 30 guns and a crossbow were seized while searching residences linked to the suspects, with most weapons registered to one of their parents.
Investigators also retrieved writings outlining the attackers' religious and racial ideologies, suggesting their hatred encompassed various races and religions. Police are currently exploring the intended target and threat scope, indicating the suspects had been radicalized online.
