MALANGRAYA.CO — Deep sorrow enveloped the Muslim community in San Diego, California, after two teenagers armed with guns opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday (14/7) afternoon local time.
This incident killed three people, including a security guard who was considered a hero because he sacrificed his life to protect dozens of children who were studying at a religious school in the mosque complex.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl confirmed that the perpetrators, ages 17 and 18, died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds several blocks from the scene.
According to Wahl, the heroic actions of the security guard, identified as Amin Abdullah, significantly prevented greater casualties.
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“His actions at least minimized the situation,” Wahl said at a news conference. “Until we know more, I don’t want to speculate, but at this point, I think it’s fair to say that his actions were heroic and there’s no doubt he saved lives today.”
Amin Abdullah was serving as a security guard at the front door of the mosque when two armed men arrived at around 11.40 local time. Instead of running away, he chose to stay and face the attackers.
All children attending Bright Horizon Academy, an Islamic school located in the mosque complex, were successfully evacuated safely by the police a few moments later.
“Every time you came, he greeted and welcomed you,” one community member recalled to reporters. “Very energetic, very strong, very professional. You could tell he was very willing to do a good job.”
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Apart from Amin Abdullah, the other two victims were mosque staff. The local community identified one of the victims as a teacher named Mohamed Nader. No children were killed in this attack.
Imam and Director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, Taha Hassane, expressed his shock at the tragedy that befell the place of worship.
“We have never experienced a tragedy like this before,” Hassane said. “It is outrageous to target places of worship.”
This attack occurred just days before the celebration of Eid al-Adha, a major Muslim holiday, and ahead of the annual Hajj season. San Diego police and the FBI are still investigating the motive behind the shooting, which Wahl called a hate crime (hate crimes).
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According to reports, at around 09.42 local time, police received a call from the mother of one of the perpetrators, Cain Clark, who reported that her son was missing, had suicidal tendencies, and was last seen wearing camouflage clothing. The mother also reported that her car and several firearms were missing.
Two hours later, at around 11.43, reports of shooting at the Islamic Center came in. Almost simultaneously, police also received reports of shots fired in an area several blocks from the mosque targeting a landscaping worker. The worker survived because the bullet allegedly hit his helmet.
Approximately 50 to 100 police personnel from throughout San Diego County immediately responded to the “active shooter” call and arrived at the scene within four minutes. No shots were fired by the authorities during the incident.
The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County and was the target of a bomb attempt on January 11, 1991, during the Gulf War. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) stated that this shooting occurred amid a record spike in complaints regarding discrimination against Muslims in 2025.
One of Amin Abdullah’s last uploads on social media is a reflection of his firm belief. He wrote: “What is success? For many people, success is financial stability, good reputation, beauty, etc. FOR ME! Wallahi, thumma Wallahi. It is returning to Allah our Creator with the same pure soul He lent me at birth.”
Today, the San Diego Muslim community mourns, but is grateful for the sacrifice of a man who with his smile and courage became the last shield for dozens of innocent souls. ***
