Five Dead in Shooting at San Diego Mosque; Attack Investigated as Hate Crime

On May 18, 2026, a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego resulted in five fatalities, including two teenage suspects. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl reported that officers responded to calls about an active shooter at the mosque around 11:40 a.m. PT. Upon arrival, they found three adult men deceased outside the center, one of whom was a security guard credited with preventing further casualties.

Shortly after, reports emerged of gunfire a few blocks away, where a landscaper was shot at but remained unharmed. Police later discovered the two suspects, aged 17 and 19, dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds inside a vehicle nearby.

Authorities are investigating the attack as a potential hate crime. The Islamic Center, the largest mosque in San Diego County, includes the Al Rashid School, which offers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies, and the Quran for students aged 5 and up.

All children attending the school were accounted for and safe following the incident. The FBI is assisting local law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.