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A rapid police response turned into a tragic mass shooting investigation in San Diego after two teenage gunmen opened fire at a local mosque, killing three men before turning their weapons on themselves in what authorities are now calling a suspected hate crime.

The violence unfolded at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where fear and chaos erupted just hours after police began searching for one of the suspects who had reportedly fled home with weapons and a vehicle.

Police Race Against Time as Warning Call Comes Too Late

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the urgent search began after the mother of a 17-year-old boy contacted authorities around 9:40 a.m., reporting that her son had run away and was suicidal while in possession of firearms and a vehicle.

“The search for the boy took on more urgency as police learned that he was dressed in camouflage and with an acquaintance — facts that were not consistent with someone about to die by suicide,” the chief said.

Law enforcement immediately activated multiple search tools, including automated license plate readers, while officers were dispatched to a nearby mall and alerted Madison High School, where at least one suspect was enrolled.

But even as the investigation widened, the situation escalated in real time.

Gunfire Erupts at Islamic Center as Search Is Ongoing

Police were still speaking with the suspect’s mother about possible locations when emergency calls reported shots fired at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Moments later, the situation spiraled further. A landscaper was also fired upon a few blocks away, though he was not injured.

As officers rushed toward the mosque, the two gunmen were already on the move.

Shortly after the attacks, the suspects were found dead inside a vehicle stopped in the middle of a nearby road. Investigators say both died from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The teens, aged 17 and 18, have not been publicly identified.

Authorities confirmed the case is being investigated as a hate crime, though officials emphasized there was no specific threat directed at the mosque prior to the shooting.

Evidence Points to Hate-Fueled Rhetoric

Chief Wahl said investigators uncovered material suggesting the suspects engaged in “generalized hate rhetoric,” but he declined to provide further details as the investigation continues.

Inside the mosque community, shock quickly turned into grief and disbelief.

The center’s director, Imam Taha Hassane, said the mosque has long focused on interfaith outreach and was hosting visitors earlier in the day.

“The mosque focused on interfaith relations, and that a group of non-Muslims had been touring the mosque earlier Monday to learn about Islam.”

The Islamic Center of San Diego sits in a densely populated area surrounded by homes, apartments, and commercial strips filled with Middle Eastern restaurants and markets. It also houses the Al Rashid School, which provides education in Arabic language, Islamic studies, and the Quran for children as young as five.

Officials confirmed no students were harmed. Video footage showed children being led out of the campus holding hands as police vehicles surrounded the area.

Security Guard Praised as Hero After Deadly Attack

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the three men killed.

However, Chief Wahl highlighted the actions of one victim, a mosque security guard who played a critical role during the attack.

“It’s fair to say his actions were heroic,” the chief said at a news conference. “Undoubtedly he saved lives today.”

As investigators continue piecing together the timeline, the focus remains on how two teenagers under active concern for mental health and safety were able to carry out a coordinated attack that left a community shaken and a city searching for answers.