Today’s newsletter is presented by YMCA San Diego.
Good morning, San Diego ☀️
Here’s what we have for you today:
- What we know about yesterday’s shooting at San Diego County’s largest mosque that left five people dead.
- Police Chief Wahl said they are investigating it as a hate crime.
Tessa Balc
Audience engagement producer
Top story
Five dead — three victims and two teenage suspects — in Islamic Center of San Diego shooting
Tragedy struck yesterday at San Diego County’s largest mosque. San Diego police and the FBI regard the shooting as a hate crime. More details are likely to come out in the days ahead.
Here’s what we know so far:
SDPD received a call about a missing juvenile at 9:42 a.m. yesterday. His mother believed him to be suicidal, but details emerged — he was wearing camo, took a car and weapons and had a companion. Those details “elevated the threat level,” police Chief Scott Wahl said.
From there officers were dispatched to various locations: Fashion Valley mall and Madison High School, where one of the suspects had a connection, not as a student, but as part of the wrestling team.
At 11:43 a.m., SDPD received a call of an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego. They arrived to find three adult male victims already deceased, including a security guard at the mosque. At a press conference yesterday, Wahl said of the guard – identified by the Islamic Center as Amin Abdullah – that “it’s fair to say his actions were heroic and undoubtedly he saved lives today.”
Reports almost immediately came in of a landscaper in the neighborhood who was shot at while working outside nearby. Another report came in of two individuals, believed to be the suspects, in a parked car with apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Chief Wahl said there was no direct threat to any religious institution, or the Islamic Center in particular, but there was “hateful rhetoric that was involved.” Wahl said the mom said found a note from her son, but he did not provide details of what it said.
“There are details and information that we are investigating, as to exactly what the hate speech or the hate words that were conveyed,” Wahl said. “Some of that is going to have to take more time to develop further, to see where that information is coming from.”
Among the chaos and massive police response, students at Bright Horizon Academy, the Islamic school that houses its Pre-K to third grade campus at the center, sheltered in place and were eventually led out to reunite with their parents.
We’re following this story and will keep you updated as more information emerges.
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Stories you should know about
🖍️ Inside the Islamic Center was an academy for children, along with a handful of schools nearby: Shaken parents scrambled to pick up their kids.
📞 For two hours yesterday police raced to stop a tragedy before it started: What happened after a mother called police for help with a son she believed was suicidal.
💰County releases recommended 2026-27 budget with eye to stability: The budget works to meet the added responsibilities of Prop. 36 and tries to create a safety net in the wake of H.R. 1.
🎶 Zinadelphia shines in the shadows of jazz giants at Lou Lou’s Jungle Room: One of San Diego’s most historically significant jazz clubs is going strong in the Lafayette Hotel.
What else we’re reading
🔎 California lawmakers launch a review of an Imperial Regional Detention Facility which has avoided paying millions in property taxes through a tax breaks meant for charities (KPBS)
🕊️ Longtime Oceanside mayor Jim Wood passed away Saturday. (Union-Tribune)
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
Step back in time…
Behind this fence was the Zoro Gardens — San Diego’s “nudist colony” in Balboa Park. Shout out to reader, Lizbeth Price, for being the first to reply with the right answer. Did you guess correct? Want to read more, check out this article.
