SAN DIEGO (PulseWire) — Two teenagers radicalized online with white supremacist views killed three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego before committing suicide, authorities confirmed Monday. FBI agent Mark Remily revealed the shooters — Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18 — authored hateful writings targeting Jews, Muslims, the LGBTQ+ community, Black people, women, and both political sides. Their materials included Nazi-era symbols and explicit calls to 'exterminate' Muslims.
During the attack, security guard Amin Abdullah engaged the shooters in a life-and-death struggle. 'The two didn't discriminate on who they hated,' Remily stated, noting the teens called themselves 'Sons of Tarrant' — referencing the Christchurch, New Zealand, mass shooter. Abdullah, who worked at the mosque for over a decade, drew the attackers away from the building, allowing him to buy critical time for the schoolchildren nearby.
'He wanted to defend the innocent so he decided to become a security guard,' said family friend Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq. The pair then fatally shot Mansour Kaziha (known as Abu Ezz, who 'was everything' to the community) and Nadir Awad before both died by suicide. Authorities found 30+ firearms, ammunition and a crossbow at their residences.
Imam Taha Hassane praised the victims at a community vigil: 'We are here to celebrate the patience, the resilience of the Muslim community. We are here to honor our heroes, our martyrs.' The mosque, which houses a school for children ages 5+, has long welcomed non-Muslims to its Ramadan dinners and Arabic language classes.
This attack follows a spike in anti-Muslim violence nationwide, with 25% more hate crimes reported against Muslim communities since the war in Gaza began. The teens had met online before discovering they lived in San Diego, with one having been a high school wrestler who graduated next month.
'He’s helped me bring in my groceries,' said neighbor Marne Celaya about Clark. 'It’s unbelievable.'
Community leaders are calling for vigilance against rising extremism. 'We have never ever expected such things to happen at the Islamic Center of San Diego,' Hassane said. 'We are used to hate mail... but such horrible crime? We have never expected this.'
Follow this breaking story as authorities investigate potential broader plans. Share eyewitness accounts or verified information using #SanDiegoMosqueShooting on social media. Fact-check claims with our interactive map live updates.}
During the attack, security guard Amin Abdullah engaged the shooters in a life-and-death struggle. 'The two didn't discriminate on who they hated,' Remily stated, noting the teens called themselves 'Sons of Tarrant' — referencing the Christchurch, New Zealand, mass shooter. Abdullah, who worked at the mosque for over a decade, drew the attackers away from the building, allowing him to buy critical time for the schoolchildren nearby.
'He wanted to defend the innocent so he decided to become a security guard,' said family friend Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq. The pair then fatally shot Mansour Kaziha (known as Abu Ezz, who 'was everything' to the community) and Nadir Awad before both died by suicide. Authorities found 30+ firearms, ammunition and a crossbow at their residences.
Imam Taha Hassane praised the victims at a community vigil: 'We are here to celebrate the patience, the resilience of the Muslim community. We are here to honor our heroes, our martyrs.' The mosque, which houses a school for children ages 5+, has long welcomed non-Muslims to its Ramadan dinners and Arabic language classes.
This attack follows a spike in anti-Muslim violence nationwide, with 25% more hate crimes reported against Muslim communities since the war in Gaza began. The teens had met online before discovering they lived in San Diego, with one having been a high school wrestler who graduated next month.
'He’s helped me bring in my groceries,' said neighbor Marne Celaya about Clark. 'It’s unbelievable.'
Community leaders are calling for vigilance against rising extremism. 'We have never ever expected such things to happen at the Islamic Center of San Diego,' Hassane said. 'We are used to hate mail... but such horrible crime? We have never expected this.'
Follow this breaking story as authorities investigate potential broader plans. Share eyewitness accounts or verified information using #SanDiegoMosqueShooting on social media. Fact-check claims with our interactive map live updates.}
