More than £1.4 million has been raised for the security guard who was shot dead while saving people during a mass shooting at a mosque in San Diego. Amin Abdullah was one of three people killed at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, according to a fundraiser launched by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Details of the Attack
The shooters, identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Velasquez, were found dead in a car nearby, apparently from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The other two victims were Mansour Kaziha, a community leader who managed the mosque store for nearly 40 years, and Nader Awad, who 'turned away community members from the bullets and saved lives.'
Television footage showed more than a dozen children holding hands and being walked out of the centre's parking lot as it was surrounded by police vehicles. 'Teachers, staff, and more than a dozen children were walked safely out of that building by police that afternoon, hand in hand,' the CAIR fundraiser stated. 'They are alive because Amin did his job.'
Heroic Actions of the Security Guard
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the guard's actions appeared to have helped stop the shooters from committing a deadlier massacre. 'I think it's fair to say his actions were heroic, and undoubtedly he saved lives today.' Imam Taha Hassane, who hid in his apartment above the mosque, noted that Abdullah's radio signal warning teachers about the shooters saved 'so many souls.'
Amin Abdullah, a Muslim convert, had said in a video just before his death: 'Do something beneficial for the next person, let this be your legacy. When you pass away, perhaps this video may reach someone and they repent, come back to their creator, and then they become a better person that will benefit you, even when you're in the grave.'
Background on the Suspects
James Canning, a spokesman for San Diego Unified School District, said school police were cooperating with authorities. Suspect Cain Clark had been attending school online since 2021 and was on track to graduate next month. He did not attend school in person but participated in 2024 as a member of the wrestling team at Madison High School. Canning said Clark had no record of disciplinary issues.
Neighbors Marne and Ted Celaya described the Clark family as good neighbors for more than 20 years. They recalled watching Cain and his older brother grow up. 'It's unbelievable,' Marne Celaya said. 'He's helped me bring in my groceries.'
Police Response
Officers used automated license plate readers to track the suspects' car and went to a mall. They also alerted a school where at least one teen was a student and interviewed the mother, Chief Wahl said. Police responded within four minutes of being called, but three men were already dead when they arrived.
The fundraiser for Abdullah continues to grow, reflecting the community's gratitude for his sacrifice.
