San Diego mosque shooting latest: Nazi symbol found at scene after three killed in suspected hate crime

Two teen suspects found dead after attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego, the first of whom has been identified as Cain Clark, 17, a high schooler who had been due to graduate this month

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Three people were killed in a shooting at a mosque in San Diego, California, Monday, with two teenage suspects found dead nearby shortly afterwards and police saying they are treating the incident as a possible hate crime.

One of the suspects has since been named as high schooler Cain Clark, 17, and investigators have reported finding a Nazi symbol, anti-Islamic writing, and a weapon inscribed with the words “hate speech” in the BMW in which their bodies were discovered.

The attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego took place after the mother of one of the suspects had called police to say her son had run away with a friend, taking multiple weapons with them and wearing camouflage, warning he could be suicidal.

When a shooting was subsequently reported at the mosque compound, officers arrived to find three dead, one of whom was a security guard who, they said, had bravely attempted to intervene.

After further shots were fired at a landscape gardener, police found the two suspects, 17 and 18, unresponsive in their car.

The FBI is assisting the San Diego Police Department with its investigation and President Donald Trump has been briefed, calling it a “terrible situation.”

• What we know about San Diego mosque shooting suspects as mom’s desperate 911 warning call revealed
• Police hunt for teen suspects’ motive in San Diego Islamic Center shooting
• Islamic Center of San Diego swarmed by cops over ‘active shooter’ report

Key Points

• Three killed, two suspects found dead in shooting at San Diego mosque
• Suspect in mosque shooting named as 17-year-old Cain Clark
• Mother of suspect warned of 'runaway juvenile' and stolen weapons before attack
• Witness saw security guard hit by two shots: 'It was very brave'
• Govenor Newsom: 'Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives'

CAIR demands end to anti-Muslim ‘campaign of hate’ after mosque attack

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., has issued this statement on Monday’s tragic events:

“We are deeply disturbed, but not at all surprised, to learn that those who attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego were reportedly motivated by anti-Muslim hate.

“Hate against American Muslims is completely out of control. Numerous politicians have spent the past year claiming that all ‘mainstream Muslims’ should be destroyed, that American mosques and elementary schools should be shut down, and that American Muslims should be expelled from our nation.

“Just last week, House Republicans held a congressional hearing to fan the flames of hate against American Muslims, their houses of worship and even Muslim school children.

“A deadly attack on an American mosque was as predictable as it is unacceptable. Anti-Muslim hatred is one of the last acceptable forms of bigotry in American society, and it is long past time for the tolerance of this hate to end.”

Zohran Mamdani: ‘We must confront Islamophobia directly and stand together’

New York City’s mayor, himself a Muslim, had this to say in response to yesterday’s attack in California:

Could the Trump administration be doing more to protect religious groups?

Monday’s shooting is being investigated as an anti-Muslim hate attack, and it comes on the heels of other religiously motivated violence, including a firebombing against Jewish marchers in Colorado last year.

The Trump administration has directed funds towards protecting religious institutions, handing out $204 million in grants to a variety of faith groups for security improvements and training.

However, Monday’s shooting could underscore the need for further protections.

The Islamic Center of San Diego had a security guard on site, who police say was killed in the attack but stopped the shooting from being worse.

Trump responds to mosque shooting: ‘Terrible situation’

This is what President Donald Trump had to say at the White House yesterday when asked about the tragedy in San Diego.

What does the SS sticker mean?

The “SS” sticker seen on the red gas canister retrieved from the suspects’ white BMW represents the Schutzstaffel, the paramilitary organization founded in 1925 and led by Heinrich Himmler under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime in Germany.

The SS initially served as Hitler’s personal bodyguard but grew into a massive force and instrument of state terror, composed of zealots who shared the Fuhrer’s belief in the supremacy of the Aryan race.

Breaking: Suspect in mosque shooting named as Cain Clark

Law enforcement sources speaking to NBC, The New York Post and other outlets have named one of the deceased suspects in the case as 17-year-old Cain Clark.

Clark reportedly attended Madison High School and was a member of its wrestling team and was scheduled to graduate this month.

His grandfather David told the Post: “We’re very sorry for what happened. We know as much as you do. It’s a shock.”

A picture has also emerged of the white BMW in which the suspects were found deceased, which had a red gas canister inside bearing a Nazi SS sticker (see below), alongside a weapon with the words “hate speech” inscribed upon it.

Note could hold key to uncovering suspects' motive

One of the suspects in Monday’s shooting left a note that his mother later found, according to police.

“She found some note from him,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told reporters. “What that note looks like, what that note says, I’m not going to disclose right now.”

The note discussed “racial pride,” CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources.

Ahead of Monday’s shooting, the mother tipped off police earlier in the day about a “runaway juvenile,” police said. She was concerned the teen was suicidal, and said he left with a companion who was wearing camo clothing.

Recap: Three killed, two suspects found dead in shooting at San Diego mosque

If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:

• Three people were killed, one of whom was a security guard, in a gun attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday.
• Two male teen suspects, aged 17 and 18, were also found dead in a parked car nearby shortly afterwards.
• The mother of one of the suspects had tipped off police shortly before the shooting started by reporting that her son and a friend had runaway bearing multiple weapons and wearing camouflage clothing, warning he could be suicidal.
• Officers arriving in the area responded to a shooting report at the mosque and found the three dead.
• After receiving calls about further shots fired at a landscape gardener, police found the two suspects, 17 and 18, unresponsive in a parked car.
• Investigators also reportedly found anti-Islamic writing in the vehicle and the words “hate speech” written on a weapon used in the attack.
• The FBI is working with the San Diego Police Department on their investigation and President Donald Trump has called the incident a “terrible situation.”

What we know about the suspects in Monday's mosque shooting in San Diego

San Diego mosque shooting: 5 dead, including 2 teen suspects, as motive investigated

Neighbor saw security guard hit by two shots: 'It was very brave'

A resident who lives near the Islamic Center of San Diego saw a mosque security guard get shot on Monday, one of three victims of the shooting.

Vanessa Chavez, 46, who lives across the street from the religious complex, told The New York Times she saw the guard, who was wearing a tactical vest, get hit by at least two gunshots. She said he fell then got up and went inside the center.

“Now seeing that he lost his life, it was very brave of him,” Chavez said.

Police have credited the guard with preventing further loss of life.

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