Two teenagers who attacked a mosque in San Diego livestreamed themselves shooting three people dead before taking their own lives, authorities confirmed. Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Velasquez, 18, carried out the assault at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, with Clark believed to have been wearing a bodycam during the incident.
Details of the Attack
Footage from the livestream shows the pair standing over a body lying in a pool of blood before retreating to their BMW. In the car, Clark, who was in the driver’s seat, shot Velasquez twice and then turned the gun on himself. A suicide note was discovered at one of the suspects’ homes, detailing themes of ‘racial pride’. Hate speech and anti-Islamic writings were found inside the vehicle and scrawled on the weapons used, including an ‘SS’ sticker on a gas can and a shotgun believed to have been taken from a parent.
Victims and Heroism
The three victims were identified as security guard Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nader Awad, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations-San Diego (CAIR-SD). Abdullah, a father of eight who had worked at the mosque for over a decade, was hailed as a hero for shielding others from gunfire. Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq stated, ‘He wanted to defend the innocent so he decided to become a security guard.’
A friend of the family told the Associated Press that Abdullah’s actions saved lives. The Islamic Center of San Diego confirmed that a school class was in session during the shooting, but all teachers and children were safely evacuated. Aerial footage showed more than a dozen children holding hands and being escorted out of the parking lot, which was surrounded by police vehicles. The mosque, a white building located in a neighborhood of homes, apartments, and strip malls with Middle Eastern restaurants and markets, became the scene of tragedy.
Response
President Donald Trump described the shooting as a ‘terrible situation’ and stated, ‘I’ve been given some early updates, but we’re going to be going back and looking at it very strongly.’ The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to examine evidence, including the livestream video and writings left behind.
