2 weeks ago
The 2 teenage gunmen responsible for a wide shooting astatine nan Islamic Center of San Diego, California, rushed toward nan mosque “fully armored” pinch handguns and rifles, authorities said.
A information defender changeable and struck 1 of nan shooters, according to members of nan mosque – but nan gunman continued charging. The defender besides alerted administrators of nan schoolhouse astatine nan Islamic Center, telling them to spell into lockdown, earlier he was changeable and killed. “If it was not for him … The carnage would beryllium overmuch worse,” said imam Taha Hassane. “He sacrificed his life.”
Two different victims had been connected nan phone, calling nan police, erstwhile they were killed, according to a witnesser who shared what he saw successful an Instagram post from nan Islamic Center. Police rushed to nan segment and yet recovered nan suspected shooters adjacent nan masjid, dormant from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
The gunmen had met and been radicalized online, according to nan FBI. At a news convention connected Tuesday, Mark Remily, nan typical supplier successful complaint of nan FBI San Diego office, said investigators uncovered a “manifesto” that expressed a “broad hatred” toward various races and religions.
Investigators besides recovered 30 firearms and a crossbow aft searching 2 residences successful relationship pinch nan investigation. Remily said agents besides seized tactical gear, ammunition and electronics.
“We besides identified writings and various ideologies outlining belief and group beliefs of really nan world they envisioned should look,” he said. “These subjects did not discriminate connected who they hated.” He added that it was still excessively early successful nan investigation to opportunity whether nan Islamic Center was nan sole aliases circumstantial target of nan gunmen.
On Monday, nan mother of 1 of nan gunmen had alerted constabulary soon earlier nan shooting occurred that her son, a 17-year-old precocious schoolhouse student, was suicidal and perchance armed. Officers had been looking for nan 17-year-old and his 18-year-old friend successful a vicinity adjacent nan mosque arsenic they opened fire.
Remily said that nan firearms nan shooters utilized were registered to 1 of their parents. “Exactly really they … were capable to get them, is still nether investigation,” he said. The FBI has opened a extremity statement and is still seeking much accusation astir nan gunmen and their motives.
One of them had been enrolled successful a virtual learning academy astatine nan San Diego unified schoolhouse district, according to a spokesperson for nan district, and had been group to postgraduate precocious schoolhouse this year.
During nan shooting, 5 nationalist schools adjacent nan Islamic Center were placed connected lockdown. Hassane, nan imam and head of nan Islamic Center, said that halfway besides practices active-shooter lockdown drills respective times a year, which he said undoubtedly protected people.
“It worked, you know,” he said. “The lives of nan kids were saved. The lives of everyone successful nan schoolhouse were saved, and we’re truthful grateful for that.”
