The two teenage suspects of Monday’s shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego San Diego met and were radicalized online and left a manifesto revealing “hatred for a broad range of folks,” law enforcement officials said Tuesday.
Three search warrants have uncovered 30 guns including rifles, pistols and shotguns, along with ammunition, a crossbow, tactical gear, electronics and the manifesto, as part of the investigation.
The 17- and 18-year-old suspects died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds after fleeing the scene, but not before allegedly killing three adult-male victims who law enforcement said prevented more people from being killed.
San Diego Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily said the FBI will conduct a thorough analysis of the manifesto to learn what led to the attack.
“In the vehicle they used we also identified writings and various ideologies outlining religious and racial beliefs of how the world they envisioned should look,” he said. “These subjects did not discriminate in who they hated.”
Weapons were found at two of the three homes they searched, Remily said. None were registered to the suspects and law enforcement is investigating how the teens got hold of the guns.
He said law enforcement has already executed search warrants on electronic devices the suspects had at the time of the incident, and are in the process of obtaining warrants for more devices.
“And let me be very clear to anyone who thinks that they can end the world through violence: they are sorely mistaken,” Remily said. “The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our community are much stronger than you think and we will always serve on the right of good.”
Law enforcement officials shared little information on the older suspect or his family. The younger suspect’s mother initially reported her 17-year-old son as missing and suicidal after stealing weapons and her car. She eventually shared details that encouraged police to launch a massive search for a homicidal juvenile working with another suspect.
After meeting online, where they were radicalized, the two suspects discovered they lived in the same city and then made in-person contact, Remily said.
At this time, law enforcement does not know if the Islamic Center of San Diego was specifically targeted.
“It’s very early, we’re still looking through electronics to give us the answers,” Remily said. “But again what I can say is they definitely had a broad hatred toward a lot of folks.”
Remily said he was aware of reports that the suspects had live-streamed the attack, but said there is “not a lot (he) can say at this point.”
SDPD Chief Scott Wahl encouraged people to report suspicious activity.
“This didn’t just happen overnight,” Wahl said.






