Today’s newsletter is presented by YMCA San Diego.
Good morning, San Diego ☀️
Here’s what we have for you today:
- Over $2 million has been donated to the families of the Islamic Center shooting victims.
- Yesterday, we learned how the victims diverted the shooters away from more than 140 children only feet away.
Tessa Balc
Audience engagement producer
Top story
Hate-filled manifesto, online radicalization and 30 guns: What we know about the mosque shooting investigation
New details continue to emerge in the Monday Islamic Center shooting. Here’s what we learned yesterday:
The identities of the three victims:
Amin Abdullah was the Center’s security guard, described as a beloved fixture at the Mosque’s doors. Mansour Kaziha was the first person Imam Taha Hassan said he would call when he needed help, whether it be fixing the light, or acting as a cook or a caretaker. Nadir Awad lived across the street and ran to the Center, where his wife is a teacher, when he heard gunfire.
What police found on scene and from search warrants:
Law enforcement confirmed the presence of hateful writing in the vehicle the shooters used. They also found a manifesto filled with hate speech directed at various groups of people. The FBI agent leading the case said, “they did not discriminate in who they hate.” Police seized 30 guns and a crossbow from two out of the three homes they searched. In the coming days law enforcement is likely to release the findings from the search warrants they are obtaining for additional electronics found.
How the shooting played out:
Law enforcement has been very clear: Abdullah, Kaziha and Awad collectively delayed and diverted the gunmen from taking more lives. Abdullah engaged the shooters in a gun fight, and triggered a lockdown. Kaziha and Awad drew the gunmen back outside, unfortunately at the expense of their own lives.
The mosque received security funding from a state program facing budget cuts:
Over the past five years, the Islamic Center has received nearly $1 million in state funding to beef up security, but the pot of money it comes from is facing massive cuts under Newsom’s proposed budget.
Amid all of this a community is grieving.
Last night, a vigil was held for the victims. Members of the Muslim community in San Diego spoke out yesterday, condemning the anti-Muslim bigotry and demanding local officials take a stand against it.
We’ll continue to follow the developments as they become known. Remember to look out for one another, San Diego.
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Stories you should know about
🚔 ‘I truly believe that’s what saved the 140 kids:’ SDPD details heroism of three mosque shooting victims.
💰 Islamic Center of San Diego received $892K in state security grants to help secure the mosque: That pot of state funding is now facing a $36 million cut under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest budget proposal.
🤲 San Diego’s Muslim community is mourning and asking for support: Amid an unimaginable tragedy, Muslim leaders are asking those outside of the faith to step up in solidarity.
🚌 Starting July 1 California developers will have a clearer path to building higher and larger housing near transit stops: According to SANDAG, as few as four and as many as 52 transit stops could be locations for new housing projects.
🔥 Brush fire burns 1,000 acres in Boulevard with residents ordered to evacuate: The fire, which started around 1 p.m. yesterday, blackened hundreds of acres Tuesday near Golden Acorn Casino, threatening structures and prompting evacuations and a SigAlert.
⚾️ Mason Miller, ace in Padres’ back pocket, stays hot in first taste of Dodgers rivalry as closer: Games in May now matter as much as head-to-head competition in September and could make the difference in making the playoffs or not.
🎶 Fun Lovin, loud and brash and Latin dance: Cyril Neville, The Sergio Mendes Band and Mike Zito are some of the artists playing in town this week.
🛑 Opinion: The hatred that reached the Islamic Center won’t stop there
What else we’re reading
💨 The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District announced Friday it is no longer accepting applications for its air purifier distribution program for residents of the South Bay citing a lack of funding. (Union-Tribune)
🧑⚖️ The Millete murder trial judge cleared the court as Maya Millete’s father screamed at Larry, ‘Why did you do this?’. (NBC 7)
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.