Investigators conduct extensive review of attack evidence
Law enforcement conducting systematic review of evidence from the multi-perpetrator San Diego mosque attack.
Event / Conflict
San Diego Islamic Center Attack
Armed attack on Islamic Center of San Diego on May 18, 2025, resulted in three deaths. Two gunmen opened fire on worshippers before dying by suicide. A North Carolina teenager was indicted for her alleged remote role in the attack, including livestreaming and distributing the attackers' manifesto.
2 reported locations
Daily activity
3 articles0 articles
2026-09-01 to 2026-11-07 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 Sept, 06:45 UTC
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What happened
Suspect purchased white-supremacist patch for attacker
Sarah L. Santiago allegedly purchased a patch bearing a white-supremacist symbol for one of the attackers to wear during the mosque shooting, according to court documents and The Associated Press.
Mosque shooting was part of broader multi-site attack plan
Authorities determined the Islamic Center of San Diego was one target in a broader attack plan. The attackers intended to commit mass murders at the mosque, followed by attacks on a local Jewish temple and a predominantly African-American high school in the area.
San Diego mosque shooting kills three worshippers
On May 18, two armed gunmen entered the Islamic Center of San Diego with intent to kill worshippers. Three men—Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad, and Mansour Kaziha—were fatally shot after confronting the attackers. The two gunmen later died by suicide in a nearby vehicle.
Investigation includes extensive evidence review
Authorities conducted more than 100 interviews, executed over 30 search warrants, and reviewed more than 4 million messages in their investigation of the mosque shooting and related conspiracies.
Teen North Carolina girl indicted on murder charges for role in mosque shooting
Sarah L. Santiago, 17, from North Carolina was indicted on three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy by Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill. Although she was not physically present in California during the May 18 attack, she allegedly recorded and distributed the attackers' livestream and published their manifesto prior to the shooting.
Gunmen identified as Caleb Vazquez and Cain Clark
The two shooters at the Islamic Center of San Diego were identified as Caleb Vazquez, 18, and Cain Clark, 17. Both were armed and entered the mosque with the intent to kill worshippers.
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2 alternative perspectives
North Carolina teen indicted for aiding San Diego mosque attack
Teen indicted for purchasing white-supremacist patch for San Diego mosque attack gunman.
Two gunmen identified in San Diego mosque attack
Two gunmen identified in coordinated multi-site mosque attack plan that killed three.