On Monday, police from several San Diego-area departments responded to a fatal shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where a 17‑year‑old and an 18‑year‑old opened fire, killing three adults. The incident has been classified both as a hate crime against a house of worship and as a school shooting, given the center’s dual role as a mosque and educational facility.

Two teenage assailants kill three adluts at the Islamic Center of San Diego

The shooters, identified as a 17‑year‑old and an 18‑year‑old, entered the mosque‑school complex and opened fire, resulting in three adult fatalities, according to the police report. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as gunfire echoed through the prayer hall and classrooms.

Multi‑agency police response converges on the mosque on Monday

Law enforcement from the San Diego Police Department, the County Sheriff’s Office,and the California Highway Patrol arrived within minutes, establishing a perimeter and securing the scene, as reported by officials. The coordinated effort underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the dual‑nature crime.

Islamophobia cited as the motive behind the attack

Investigators have stated that the assailants were motivated by anti‑Muslim sentiment, labeling the act a hate crime. The motive aligns with a broader pattern of Islamophobic violence that has risen in the United States over the past few years, according to civil‑rights groups.

April 2026 warning to the congregation went unheeded

In April 2026, a community member warned the Islamic Center’s congregation of a possible attack, a caution that proved tragically prescient just three weeks later, as noted in the source article. The warning highlighted concerns about the lack of educational programs on Muslim‑American and Arab‑American history in San Diego, a gap some advocates say may have contributed to the climate of hostility.

Who issued the April warning and why was it ignored?

The source mentions an unnamed author who alerted the center but does not identify the individual or the specific channels used to convey the threat.. It remains unclear whether law enforcement was alerted at the time,a point that will likely shape future investigations and community‑trust discussions.