According to reports from AP and CNN, the shooting occurred on May 18 at the San Diego Islamic Center located in the Clairemont area of San Diego County, resulting in the deaths of three adult men, including a security guard.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated that the suspects are believed to be 17 and 19 years old. They were discovered dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a vehicle that had come to a stop in the middle of a nearby road.
While the exact motive for the shooting is still under investigation, police indicated that a note left by one of the suspects and the firearms used contained evidence of "generalized hate expression," leading them to classify the incident as a hate crime.
CNN reported that one of the firearms used in the attack had hate messages inscribed on it, and anti-Islam slogans were found in the suspects' vehicle.
All children present at the Al Rashid School, which is affiliated with the Islamic center, were confirmed safe during the incident. The San Diego Islamic Center, the largest Islamic worship facility in the county, is located about 14 kilometers north of downtown San Diego and includes a school teaching Arabic, Islamic studies, and the Quran to students aged five and older.
Imam Taha Hassan, the religious leader of the center, expressed outrage at the targeting of a place of worship during a press conference, stating, "It is extremely infuriating to target a place of worship. All places of worship in our beautiful city must always be protected."
California Governor Gavin Newsom also released a statement expressing shock at the violent attack in a place where families and children gather peacefully to worship, asserting that "hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or threats against faith communities."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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