Two teenage gunmen, identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, killed three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego before taking their own lives. Federal and local authorities are now investigating how the pair accumulated a massive arsenal of weapons through online radicalization.

A cache of 30 firearms and a crossbow

Federal authorities have recovered a massive collection of weaponry from two residences linked to the San Diego mosque shooting. According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily, search warrants served at homes in Clairemont and Chula Vista yielded 30 firearms, a crossbow, tactical gear, and various types of ammunition, incluing pistols, rifles, and shotguns.

The scale of the weaponry suggests a level of preparation that goes beyond typical juvenile crime. The search included residences associated with 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, whose families were reportedly unaware of the extent of the teenagers' collection until the violence erupted.

Online radicalization and the recovered manifesto

The investigation has revealed that the two suspects were radicalized through online platforms , where they met and bonded over a shared, hate-filled ideology. As reported by NBC 7, a manifesto recovered by the FBI indicated that the subjects "did not discriminate on who they hated," suggesting a broad and indiscriminate target profile.

This extremist worldview was further documented in writings found inside the vehicle where the teenagers were eventually found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. These writings detailed various ideologies regarding religious and racial beliefs, outlining a specific vision of how the world should look according to their radicalized perspectives.

The missing weapons at the Clairemont residence

The shooting followed a series of warning signs that were only fully realized after the attack began. San Diego Police Department Chief Scott Wahl stated that Clark's mother had contacted officers earlier that day because she was concerned about her son's wellbeing and believed he was suicidal.

During that initial contact, the mother realized that several items were missing from her home, including multiple weapons and her vehicle. While police were attempting to piece together the growing picture of Clark's disappearance, the 11:45 A.M. shooting occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego, located about 10 miles from downtown .

The source of the 30-gun arsenal remains unknown

While the FBI has confirmed the sheer volume of weapons recovered, investigators have not yet explained how two teenagers managed to acquire such a large cache. A primary focus of the ongoing probe is determining how Clark and Vazquez bypassed legal or physical barriers to obtain 30 firearms and tactical equipment.

There are several critical questions that remain unanswered by current law enforcement briefings. Specifically, investigators have not yet identified the specific online communities that facilitated their radicalization, nor have they clarified how the weapons were moved from their points of origin to the suspects' homes in Clairemont and Chula Vista.