A deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego has prompted a multi-agency investigation after two teenage suspects allegedly opened fire on worshippers Monday morning, leaving three adults dead and triggering an immediate law enforcement response across multiple locations in the city.
Authorities say the case is being examined as a possible hate crime as investigators work to establish motive and timeline details.
San Diego police identified the suspects as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, both of whom were later found dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds inside a vehicle several blocks from the scene.
Officials confirmed three adult males were killed during the attack at the Islamic Center, including a longtime security guard described by community members as a father of eight.
According to San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl, the investigation began hours before the shooting when authorities received a call from a mother reporting her teenage son as a runaway and expressing concern that he was suicidal.
She also told police that several firearms and a vehicle were missing and that her son had left with another individual dressed in camouflage. That report triggered a broader search effort across San Diego, OANN reported.
Law enforcement officials used license plate readers to track the suspects’ vehicle, which was later spotted in multiple locations across the city, including near a shopping center and a high school connected to one of the teens.
Officers were also dispatched to those areas as part of a developing threat assessment while investigators attempted to locate the missing vehicle and determine the suspects’ movements.
The situation escalated around midday when police received reports of an active shooter at the Islamic Center.
Officers arrived within minutes and discovered multiple victims outside the mosque.
At nearly the same time, additional reports emerged of gunfire in nearby neighborhoods, including an incident in which a landscaper was reportedly targeted but not struck after a bullet was deflected by protective gear, according to the Daily Mail.
Investigators later located both suspects inside a parked vehicle, where they were found dead from what authorities believe were self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Police say the sequence of events remains under reconstruction, including the exact timing of each location visit and how the suspects moved between sites before the attack concluded.
Two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News that investigators recovered writings from the suspects’ vehicle containing anti-Islamic themes, along with a note believed to have been left by one of the teens prior to the attack, The Post Millennial reported.
Officials also reported that one of the firearms involved contained disturbing markings, which are now part of the broader evidentiary review.
Authorities have not yet formally established a definitive motive, but investigators say the presence of extremist-themed writings and pre-attack planning indicators has led them to consider the shooting a potential hate crime.
San Diego officials said the investigation remains in its early stages, noting that the classification of the incident is still provisional as forensic and digital evidence continues to be reviewed.
Authorities confirmed that no children were harmed during the attack and that students and staff at the Islamic Center’s affiliated school were safely evacuated.
The facility remains closed as investigators continue processing the scene alongside federal partners, including the FBI.
Some unverified claims circulating on social media have said that Cain was in fact “trans” and in a romantic relationship with Vazquez.
These claims have not been confirmed by law enforcement, are not included in official investigative findings, and have not been independently verified as of publication.
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