Charisma Madarang
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Three people were fatally shot at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and two suspects were later found dead nearby. K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images Three people were killed on Monday after two shooters opened fire outside the Islamic Center of San Diego. Two suspects, both teenagers, were later found dead nearby.
According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the shooting is being investigated as a hate crime, and the FBI is involved in the investigation. “Because of the Islamic Center location, we are considering this a hate crime until it’s not,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.
The report of an active shooter at the center came in around 11:40 a.m. Officers arrived to find three people dead at the front, one of whom was a security guard, and soon after, found two suspects dead in a vehicle blocks away. The suspects, aged 17 and 19, appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshots, according to police.
Vanessa Chavez, who lives across from the Islamic Center, told The New York Times that she heard at least four gunshots and called 911. She said a security guard outside the mosque was hit by at least two gunshots, fell, then stood up and went inside. “Now seeing that he lost his life, it was very brave of him,” she said.
“At this point, I think it’s fair to say his actions were heroic,” Wahl said. “Undoubtedly, he saved lives today.”
A school is located at the Islamic center, all children who were attending are safe, officials said.
