A shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego left three men dead and two teen suspects dead, officials said.
The incident marks a violent attack on a religious institution, prompting a federal investigation into whether the crime was motivated by hate.
San Diego police reported that three men died during the attack [1]. Two teen suspects were also found dead [1]. Officials confirmed that no children were injured in the shooting [3].
Mayor Todd Gloria addressed the tragedy, emphasizing the right to religious freedom. "No one should have to worship in fear," Gloria said.
Local law enforcement is coordinating with federal officials to determine the sequence of events. The San Diego Police Department said that hate rhetoric is under investigation [4].
A spokesperson for the San Diego Police Department said, "We are continuing our investigation and working with federal partners" [2].
The investigation remains active as authorities work to identify the suspects and establish a motive for the attack. Police have not yet released the names of the victims or the dead teenagers.
“No one should have to worship in fear”
This incident underscores the ongoing vulnerability of religious minorities to targeted violence in the U.S. The involvement of federal partners and the specific investigation into hate-motivated rhetoric suggest that authorities are treating this as a potential hate crime, which carries different legal implications and societal impacts than a standard criminal shooting.
