Authorities in San Diego are examining a video that appears to show the deadly attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego, with sources indicating it was posted online by one of the suspects. The Monday shooting left three men dead, including a security guard, and investigators are treating the incident as a possible hate crime linked to nihilistic violent extremism.
Two suspects, identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, were found dead in a vehicle near the scene, according to police. Sources told ABC News that the video, posted to an online gore site, captures the suspects approaching the center and opening fire, with the person believed to be Clark wearing camouflage fatigues and a plate carrier adorned with a Sonnenrad patch and other neo-Nazi symbols.
In a later segment of the footage, the individual thought to be Clark is seen shooting Vazquez before taking his own life, sources said. Writings on a gun recovered at the scene included drawings of SS bolts and neo-Nazi insignias, while additional symbols such as a flag with a Sonnenrad and a gas can marked with SS bolts were found nearby.
Investigators are also reviewing a 75-page document circulating online that consists of two essays allegedly written by the suspects, both promoting white nationalism and expressing hatred toward immigrants, racial minorities, and others. Vazquez reportedly described himself as an "accelerationist" in his portion, sources added, though it remains unclear when the writings were composed since a section listing targets was left blank.
"They didn't discriminate on who they hated," said Mark Remily, special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office, during a Tuesday press briefing. Remily noted that the suspects met online, lived in the San Diego area, and appeared to have been radicalized through the internet, harboring a "broad hatred" toward various races and religions.
Police recovered writings outlining "religious and racial beliefs of how the world they envision should look," Remily said, as authorities analyze the materials to understand the radicalization process and prevent future attacks. It is still too early to determine if the mosque itself was the specific target, officials stated.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described how the suspects engaged in a gun battle with security guard Amin Abdullah outside the mosque before entering the building. Abdullah activated a lockdown protocol that allowed those inside, including about 140 children, to hide safely, Wahl said. "His actions, without a doubt, delayed, distracted and ultimately deterred these two individuals from gaining access to the greater areas of the mosque where as many as 140 kids were within 15 feet of these suspects," the chief added.
The suspects moved room by room but encountered no one inside before fleeing through a door and confronting two other victims, Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad, in the parking lot, according to Wahl. The victims were cornered and killed, he reported. The guns used in the attack belonged to the parents of one suspect, and authorities seized over 30 firearms, a crossbow, ammunition, tactical gear, and electronics from two residences linked to the pair.
Earlier that day, around two hours before the shooting, San Diego police received a report from the 17-year-old suspect’s mother about a runaway juvenile, missing weapons, and a vehicle, Wahl said. She also discovered a note and mentioned her son was with another person, both dressed in camouflage. Officers were searching for the vehicle when the mosque attack was reported shortly before noon.
Imam Taha Hassan of the Islamic Center of San Diego called the targeting of a place of worship "extremely outrageous." "We have never experienced a tragedy like this before," Hassan said at a news conference. "The religious intolerance and the hate, unfortunately, that exists in our nation is unprecedented."
Tazheen Nizam, executive director of the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, condemned the violence in a statement: "We strongly condemn this horrifying act of violence. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this attack. No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school."
Mayor Todd Gloria announced increased patrols around religious sites across the city, including Muslim, Jewish, and other faith communities. "I believe that once the investigation is complete that that security guard will be credited with a tremendous saving of many, many lives, including many children, an absolute hero who sadly lost his life, but for whom we're all grateful," Gloria told ABC News. He added that "Hate has no home in San Diego. Islamophobia has no home in San Diego."
Police in Chula Vista had previously spoken with Vazquez last year after concerns were raised about his interest in extremist ideology and mass-casualty attacks, though the information did not meet the threshold for arrest at the time, sources said. A Chula Vista Police Department spokesperson expressed condolences but declined further comment on the prior contact.
Authorities continue to review electronics and other evidence to clarify the full threat picture and motive, with the incident currently classified as a hate crime. "There was definitely hate rhetoric that was involved," Wahl said during an earlier briefing. The Islamic Center, the largest mosque in San Diego County, has received support from community leaders emphasizing solidarity with all places of worship.