By Jan Porch l May 18, 2026
SAN DIEGO — Multiple people were killed and injured after gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate-motivated attack targeting one of California’s largest Muslim communities.
San Diego police said officers responded to reports of an active shooter at the mosque complex in the Clairemont neighborhood shortly before midday. Authorities later confirmed that the threat had been “neutralized” and that the two suspected attackers were dead.
According to preliminary reports from local officials and media outlets, at least five people, including the two suspects, died during the attack. The San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) confirmed that one of the victims was a mosque security guard who was killed while trying to protect worshippers.
Police Chief Scott Wahl said investigators believe the suspects were teenagers and indicated the shooting is being treated as a possible hate crime. Authorities have not yet publicly released the identities of the attackers or disclosed a motive as investigations continue.
The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County and includes educational facilities such as the Al Rashid School and Bright Horizon Academy, where children were present at the time of the attack. Television footage from the scene showed children being evacuated hand-in-hand from the mosque grounds as heavily armed tactical officers secured the area.
The shooting prompted a massive emergency response involving local police, SWAT teams, and federal authorities. Nearby religious institutions, including several Jewish organizations and community centers, were temporarily placed on lockdown as precautionary measures amid fears of additional attacks.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said they were being briefed on the situation and praised first responders for rapidly securing the scene.
Muslim advocacy organizations condemned the violence and called for increased protection for houses of worship across the United States. CAIR described the shooting as a tragic assault on religious freedom and community safety during one of Islam’s holiest months.
The attack has revived painful memories of previous acts of religiously motivated violence in California, including the 2019 Poway synagogue shooting and earlier arson attacks targeting mosques in the San Diego region.