Islamic Center Shooting Information

NEXT PRESS UPDATE: Latest update posted below as of Friday, May 22.  

Remembering

Know Anything About This Incident? Provide Information

The FBI is seeking information on the shooting that took place at the Islamic Center of San Diego and urges anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit information online.

Supportive Services

San Diego Family Justice Center: The San Diego Family Justice Center provides free services for people experiencing the effects of gun violence. Call 619-533-6000. 

San Diego County District Attorney Victim Assistance Program: Call 619-531-4041. Specially trained victim advocates offer crisis intervention, emergency assistance for food or housing, resource referrals, and guidance through the legal system. 

The City of San Diego has compiled a list of resources to support our communities during this difficult time, including victim services, mental health resources, faith-based services, and more.

 View List of Crisis Resources

Latest Updates

Update: Friday, May 22 - 5 p.m. 

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) continues to grieve for everyone impacted by this week’s horrific event. 

We understand the public’s desire for answers and will continue providing information that is confirmed, verified, and will not compromise the active investigation being conducted by SDPD and the FBI San Diego. 

We appreciate everyone’s patience and shared commitment to understanding what occurred in this week’s tragedy. 

Timeline: 

The San Diego Police Department has released a preliminary timeline:

VIEW PDF TIMELINE

SDPD Staffing:

The San Diego Police Department, like many law enforcement agencies nationwide, continues to face staffing shortages. SDPD has spoken openly about those challenges.

We understand why people would ask whether staffing levels played a role in this week’s tragedy, and that will be a part of our ongoing review.

Based on what we know now, this response was largely driven by the information officers and dispatchers had at the time. Once the call was elevated to a Priority 1, officers were on their way to continue the investigation within approximately 5 minutes. Later, when reports came in of an active shooter at the Islamic Center, the call was elevated again to a Priority 0, triggering an immediate countywide response. Officers were on scene within four minutes. 

There will be greater clarity in the weeks and months ahead as more information is learned.

Runaway Juvenile Calls: 

Over the last five years, the San Diego Police Department has received, on average, 1,891 Runaway Juvenile calls per year. 

Misidentified Person:

SDPD is aware that incorrect photos of one of the suspects in this case are being shared online. We will not be providing any images of the suspects to give them any further publicity. We continue to remind the public to use caution with online information and to use only verified information when reporting serious incidents like this.

The FBI has also released a statement on this.

Update: Tuesday, May 19 - 3:30 p.m. 

DOWNLOAD IMAGES OF THE VICTIMS / MAY 19 PRESS BRIEFING

• The suspects parked in the Islamic Center's lot and ran past the security guard, now identified as 51-year-old Amin Abdullah, and engaged in gunfire with the guard. The security guard returned gunfire and initiated lockdown protocols for the Center via his radio. He was unfortunately killed by the suspects.  
• His actions delayed and deterred access to the greater area of the facility. 
• The suspects then entered the building, accessed a few empty areas and rooms, and exited through a door back into the parking lot. 
• There, they encountered 78-year-old Mansour Kaziha and 57-year-old Nadir Awad. The suspects opened fire, killing them. 
• The suspects then fled in their vehicle into the neighborhood, where they shot at the gardener, who was uninjured. 
• Shortly thereafter, they shot and killed themselves in the vehicle. The details around what happened during this time are still unclear.
• In coordination with the San Diego Police Department, the FBI is currently conducting extensive interviews with the suspects' family and friends.
• It is believed that the two suspects met online, realized they both lived in San Diego, and exchanged radicalized ideology. 
• The guns used in the incident were not registered to the suspects. How they obtained them is still under investigation. 
• Law enforcement has executed three search warrants at residences associated with the suspects.
• During those searches, numerous firearms were seized from two of those locations, including numerous pistols, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, tactical gear, and electronics.
• So far in the investigation, over 30 guns and a crossbow have been seized. Investigators are continuing to process information from all locations.
• Search warrants have been executed on the electronic devices the suspects had with them at the time of the attack, and investigators are in the process of obtaining additional search warrants for other devices.
• Writings found in the vehicle described hatred toward various religions and races.

Suspects

• Caleb Liam Vazquez, 18 years old
• Cain Lee Clark, 17 years old                                                                

Update: Monday, May 18 - 6:30 p.m. 

• CORRECTION FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE: The suspect ages are 17 & 18. 
• At 9:42 a.m., SDPD received a call about a runaway juvenile. Over the course of about an hour and multiple calls, SDPD pieced together bits of information from the juvenile's mother.
• She believed her son was suicidal and shared information that several of her weapons were missing, along with her vehicle. 
• She also stated that he was with a companion, who was dressed in camouflage. 
• Based on the information provided, SDPD elevated the threat level and began using Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology and law enforcement personnel in an attempt to locate the individuals. 
• SDPD received ALPR alerts that the vehicle was in the Fashion Valley area and dispatched officers to the mall area as a possible threat location.
• It was reported to police that one of the suspects was associated with Madison High School, so SDPD worked with San Diego Unified Police to dispatch officers to the area of the school. It is now known that he was enrolled in an online virtual program.  
• As SDPD continued to work to find the individuals, the first call of an active shooter at the Center came out at approximately 11:42 a.m.
• As officers arrived, they entered the Center immediately in search of the suspect. 
• Investigators are issuing search warrants and continuing to process the scene. 
• At this time, the suspect and victim names are being held pending notifications. 
• Any information that can be helpful should be provided to the FBI. 
• This incident is being investigated as a hate crime. 

Update: Monday, May 18 - 2:30 p.m. 

• On Monday, May 18, 2026, at around 11:43 a.m., the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) received reports of an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego (7000 block of Eckstrom Ave.) in the Clairemont neighborhood. 
• SDPD officers arrived on-scene by 11:47 a.m. and encountered three deceased adult victims outside the Center. One of the victims was a security guard of the Islamic Center.
• They immediately deployed into the Islamic Center and adjacent school to locate the shooter. 
• At 11:52, a couple of blocks away near the 7100 block of Salerno St., SDPD received calls about additional active gunfire. It was reported that a landscaper was shot at. 
• A few minutes later, near the 3800 block of Hatton St., officers were called to that location, where they found a vehicle in the street with what appeared to be the suspects. 
• It is believed at this time that the suspects had self-inflicted gunshot wounds by the time officers arrived. The suspects are aged 17 and 19. 
• No children from the school or officers were injured. 
• There is no ongoing threat to the public. 
• This is an ongoing investigation and will be aided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.