Teens Opened Fire at Mosque, Killing 3, San Diego Police Say

Two teenagers opened fire at a San Diego mosque on Monday, police said, killing at least three people. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the victims were adult males found just outside the Islamic Center of San Diego. One of them was a security guard, the New York Times reports. Police reported the threat "neutralized" around 1pm, about 90 minutes after the first report of gunshots, per NBC San Diego. The teenagers, 17 and 19, were found dead in a vehicle nearby of gunshot wounds that appeared to be self-inflicted, Wahl said in a press conference. The victims' names were not immediately released. The attack is being investigated as a hate crime, police said.

• The children: Aerial TV footage showed more than a dozen children holding hands and being walked out of the parking lot of the center, which was surrounded by scores of police vehicles. "All of the kids are safe," Wahl said.
• Nearby: Shots were fired at a landscaper in the area who was not struck, police said, per the AP.
• The guard: Wahl said the security guard apparently helped prevent deaths, saying the guard "played a pivotal role in assisting from this being much worse."
• The investigation: Anti-Islamic writing was discovered in the car where the suspects' bodies were found, per the Times. Investigators said that one of the suspects left a suicide note, and that "hate speech" was written on one of the guns used. The suspects' names have not yet been released.

• The mosque: The Islamic Center is the largest mosque in San Diego County, according to its website. The campus includes the Al Rashid School, which offers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies, and the Quran for students ages 5 and up, according to its website.
• Response: "It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship," said Taha Hassane, an imam at the mosque, said in the press conference. The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the shooting and noted that the attack came amid a rise in complaints about anti-Muslim bias and discrimination. "No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying in elementary school," said Tazheen Nizam, the executive director of CAIR-San Diego. Mayor Todd Gloria assured members of the Muslim community that the city will do what it takes to ensure they feel safe in San Diego. Police in New York City, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles said the cities will increase the police presence at mosques and other houses of worship, per CNN.