Five dead, details unclear, in San Diego mosque shooting

Police in San Diego responded to an active shooter call at the area’s largest mosque on Monday afternoon, saying about an hour later that the threat had been neutralized. Officers immediately observed three deceased individuals in front of the mosque, called the Islamic Center of San Diego, police later said at a news conference. One of those three presumed victims was a member of the mosque’s security team, police said. Officers were also called to another shooting nearby, where they found a vehicle in the middle of the street with two deceased teenagers whom police believe were the shooters behind the mosque incident. The suspects appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Many facts and any motive for the shooting remained unclear at a news conference later in the afternoon. San Diego police were working closely with the FBI on the investigation.

Because children were inside the center at the time of the shooting, police set up a reunification center for parents and children. “I’ll tell you what got me: Watching the kids come running out just thankful to be alive,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.

Police acknowledged an active shooter report shortly before 1 p.m. Pacific time at the mosque in the Clairemont neighborhood, later adding that the situation was contained and there was no ongoing threat to the community. The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in the county, according to its website. In addition to a weekly service, it holds five daily prayers and a variety of educational talks and seminars.