Television programming in the United States was interrupted once again by news on the front of the gun epidemic, that disease so characteristic of this country. At a moment of high sensitivity, this time the tragedy occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest in this southern California city of 1.4 million residents.
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Two alleged teenage gunmen, aged 19 and 17, supposedly committed suicide inside the vehicle in which they fled after leaving three adults dead in that religious center and school in the Clairemont neighborhood. One of the fatalities was the security guard, who tried to stop the attackers. “He was a great help in preventing this from being even worse,” emphasized Scott Wahl, head of the local police.
“Given this site, we are considering this case a hate crime until proven otherwise,” Wahl stressed, “We will work closely with the FBI to ensure we have all the necessary resources for this investigation,” he insisted at a first press conference, when he still did not want to comment on the identity of the alleged perpetrators and their motivation.
It did emerge that investigators recovered anti-Islamic writings in the gunmen’s car, police sources acknowledged. Before the shooting, one of the two suspects took a firearm from his parents’ house and left a suicide note. The words “hate speech” were written on one of the weapons used.
Shortly before that appearance, in which Mayor Todd Gloria said that “hate has no place in San Diego,” the imam and president of the Islamic Center, Taha Hassane, issued a statement trying to offer calm amid the chaos by pointing out that teachers, students, and other school staff were safe. “There is no threat at this time, but we want everyone to stay away from this place,” he pleaded.
“This is the worst nightmare for any community,” Wahl began when providing the preliminary information. “Both suspects are dead, all the kids are fine,” he continued.
According to his account, around 11:43 a.m. (West Coast time), they received a call that there was a shooting at the Islamic Center. Officers arrived at that site in just four minutes and at the scene observed that there were three dead at the front.
Officers immediately entered, quickly numbering up to a hundred, to search the facilities, room by room. There was no trace of the alleged attackers and, immediately, officers began receiving calls informing them of shots fired a couple of blocks away. A gardener working in that area seemed to be the target of those bullets, but miraculously, Wahl emphasized, he was not injured.
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The chief indicated that moments later, police were required in another direction. There was a car stopped in the middle of the street. Inside were the suspects. Both appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds and Wahl added the investigators’ belief that no officer fired their weapon.
“The circumstances that led to this, and the details of what exactly happened and when it happened, will be known in the coming days,” he reiterated. Everything was recorded on the security cameras of the facility.
“No community should have to go through this, but we will work tirelessly until we know the truth,” intervened Mark Remily, FBI special agent. “We ask for your patience to determine the motives and facts associated with the shooting,” he requested. And he reminded citizens that any detail they can provide, even if it seems minor, will be helpful in this investigation.
“I want to assure the Muslim community that we will do everything possible to ensure you feel safe in this city, we will not spare resources to ensure that our religious institutions and their locations are protected,” promised Mayor Gloria.
Imam Taha Hassane also appeared before the media to thank for the expressions of support and solidarity from other Islamic groups in the city and internationally who had reached out to them showing interest in this tragedy. “It is extremely outrageous to attack a place of worship,” he lamented.
“Our Islamic Center is a place of worship. People come to pray, celebrate, and learn, not only Muslims, but people from all walks of life,” the imam clarified. “Just this morning a group of people came who wanted to learn about our faith and our culture,” he added.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the shooting and noted that the attack occurred amid an increase in reports of prejudice and discrimination against Muslims. “No one should fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school,” emphasized Tazheen Nizam, executive director of CAIR in San Diego, in a statement.
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