Two teenagers, 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Velasquez, have been identified as the shooters who carried out a rampage outside a San Diego mosque on Monday. Both died from self-inflicted wounds. Clark, a standout wrestler, stunned his family, who were unaware of his plans. "We are very sorry for what happened. We know as much as you do. It's a shock," said his grandfather, David Clark.
Details of the Attack
Hours before the attack, Clark's mother called police, reporting that her son and the car were missing. She said Clark was suicidal and that several weapons were missing from their home, adding that he was with a companion and they were dressed in camouflage. Police then elevated the threat level.
Hate Symbols and Evidence
Anti-Islamic writings were found in the suspects' vehicle, and "hate speech" was written on the firearms used. A shotgun and a gas can with an "SS" sticker—representing the Nazi paramilitary Schutzstaffel—were found near the shooters' bodies. A suicide note containing racial pride writings was also discovered.
Victim and Community Response
The security guard killed in the shooting was identified as Amin Abdullah, a father of eight. A fundraiser for his family has raised $1.4 million. "He wasn't just a guard," the campaign page reads. "He was the first face of that community to anyone who came through the door — and the last line of defense when it mattered most."
Rise in Islamophobia
The attack, being investigated as a hate crime, occurs amid rising Islamophobic incidents in the U.S. The Council on American-Islamic Relations reported 8,683 anti-Muslim discrimination complaints in 2023, the highest since 1996, with a surge since the Gaza war began.
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