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Police Give Update After Shooting In California

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Emergency workers respond at the scene of a reported active shooter situation at the Islamic Center in San Diego, California, U.S., May 18, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake

New details are emerging after Monday’s mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and some of the early assumptions surrounding the attack are now colliding with evidence reportedly pulled from the suspects’ own writings and video recordings.

Three people were killed in the attack, including mosque security guard Amin Abdullah, who officials and witnesses say helped save lives during the chaos. Authorities identified the two suspects as 17-year-old Cain Lee Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Liam Vazquez. Earlier reports incorrectly listed Vazquez’s surname as Velasquez.

Police say the pair opened fire shortly before noon Pacific time before fleeing the scene. Both were later found dead inside a vehicle several blocks away from the mosque with what investigators believe were self-inflicted gunshot wounds.


In the immediate aftermath, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl confirmed investigators had uncovered “hate rhetoric” connected to the attack but stopped short of providing ideological specifics. That vacuum was quickly filled online, where many commentators immediately framed the shooting as another example of a far-right, pro-Trump extremist attack targeting Muslims.


But on Tuesday, portions of what is believed to be the shooters’ manifesto began circulating online through posts shared by San Diego activist Amy Reichert, and the contents complicated several of those early narratives.


According to excerpts posted online, the suspects discussed targeting multiple locations and referred to searching for “diverse targets,” suggesting the Islamic Center may not have been their only intended destination. The writings reportedly described leaving aspects of the attack “to fate” depending on whether they could strike more than one site.


Authorities have not yet publicly authenticated every document circulating online, but investigators have confirmed the pair had become radicalized online after meeting through internet communities. Police also said the suspects possessed neo-Nazi imagery and extremist paraphernalia.


Perhaps the most disturbing detail came from reports surrounding video footage allegedly recorded by the attackers themselves. According to accounts describing the footage, Clark — dressed in camouflage gear — shot Vazquez before turning the gun on himself after the attack.

Investigators also reportedly recovered weapons and tactical equipment marked with neo-Nazi insignias.


The scale of the weapons cache discovered afterward added another layer to the story. Authorities said the teens had accumulated approximately 30 firearms along with a crossbow, with many of the weapons reportedly taken from the parents of one of the suspects.

Meanwhile, the death toll could have been far worse if not for the actions of mosque security guard Amin Abdullah. Community members described him as instrumental in helping worshippers escape and protecting others as the gunfire erupted.

The investigation remains ongoing as federal and local authorities continue reviewing digital evidence, online communications, and the alleged manifesto. Officials have not yet released a full timeline of the suspects’ activities leading up to the attack or clarified whether additional targets had been selected.

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