Security Guard, Two Suspects Killed in San Diego Mosque Shooting

Authorities in the United States have launched a major investigation into a deadly shooting at the Islamic Centre of San Diego in California, with police treating the incident as a possible hate crime.

The attack left three people dead, including a security guard praised by officials for helping prevent further casualties.

San Diego Police Chief, Scott Wahl, said officers responded to reports of an active shooter at the mosque and later discovered multiple crime scenes linked to the incident.

According to Wahl, police found three bodies outside the mosque after forcing entry into the facility, where dozens of officers were deployed to secure worshippers and surrounding residents.

“At one point, there were between 50 and 100 officers inside the facility,” he said during a press briefing.

Police also received reports of another shooting nearby while the mosque operation was ongoing. Authorities said a landscaper was targeted in the second incident but escaped without injury.

Investigators later traced the suspects to a third location where officers found a vehicle abandoned in the middle of the road with two young men inside.

The suspects, aged 17 and 19, are believed to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, according to police.

Wahl said investigators are examining the events leading up to the attack and any possible extremist motivations behind it.

“We are actively investigating what led to this incident. These situations do not happen randomly, and we are reviewing all prior information connected to the suspects,” he stated.

The police chief added that authorities are currently handling the case as a hate crime investigation pending further findings.

Attention has also focused on the actions of the mosque’s security guard, who was killed during the attack. Police credited him with helping to prevent greater loss of life during the shooting.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump described the incident as a “terrible situation” and said federal authorities would closely monitor the investigation.

According to AFP, Trump told reporters that law enforcement agencies would thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.