Three brave men lost their lives protecting worshippers at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Discover the full story of the victims hailed as heroes, the young shooters, and the community’s call for unity amid rising hate. A heartbreaking but inspiring account from May 2026.
True Courage Shown in San Diego
It started like any other Monday morning at the Islamic Center of San Diego – one of the largest mosques in the area, a place where families pray, kids learn, and neighbors connect. But on May 18, 2026, two teenagers turned that peaceful space into a scene of horror. By the end of it, three men lay dead outside the building, and the community was left reeling.
What makes this story different from so many other tragic headlines is how ordinary people became extraordinary in the worst moments. The victims didn’t run. They stepped up – and in doing so, they saved dozens of children and staff inside the center.
Who Were the Victims? Remembering the Heroes
The three men killed were:
- Amin Abdullah, 51, the dedicated security guard. His daughter Hawaa described him as a loving father who skipped breaks and meals just to stay vigilant. After the New Zealand mosque attacks in 2019, he took his role even more seriously. When the shooters approached, Amin immediately engaged them, radioed for a lockdown, and bought precious time. Police say his actions kept the gunmen from reaching classrooms with up to 140 kids nearby.
- Mansour Kaziha, 78, a founding pillar of the center since the 1980s. Known as “Uncle” to generations of children, he ran the mosque shop, handed out candy, cooked lentil soup for iftar, and fixed anything that needed fixing. He was the first to call 911 and helped draw the attackers away from the building.
- Nadir Awad, 57, a cheerful neighbor across the street whose wife taught at the center’s school. He heard the shots and ran toward the danger to help, without hesitation.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl put it plainly: without these three, “there would have been many more fatalities.” Imam Taha Hassane called them “our martyrs and our heroes.”
Their families and the broader community have shared tearful tributes. Hawaa Abdullah spoke movingly about her dad being her role model and protector. Vigils have brought people together in parks and at the center itself, with calls for kindness that transcend faith.
The Shooters: Two Teens Radicalized Online
Authorities quickly identified the attackers as Caleb Liam Vazquez, 18, and Cain Lee Clark, 17. Both died by apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds a short distance away.
The FBI says the pair met online, bonded over hateful writings, and lived in the San Diego area. They exchanged radicalized ideology that included broad hatred toward different races and religions. A gas canister near their car reportedly had a Nazi symbol. One suspect’s mother had reported him, his car, and weapons missing hours earlier, raising questions about missed warning signs.
Investigators are treating this as a hate crime. Ring camera footage captured some of the chaos in nearby neighborhoods.
Community Response: Grief, Anger, and Calls for Change
In the days since, faith leaders, CAIR representatives, and locals have gathered to mourn while urging action against rising Islamophobia. Many pointed to a climate of anti-Muslim rhetoric that they say doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Imam Saad Eldegwy emphasized that mosques are places of peace open to everyone.
Security at the center had already increased in recent years due to previous threats, especially after October 7, 2023. Yet no one expected this.
The outpouring of support – from other faith communities and everyday San Diegans – shows the best of the city even in darkness. People are honoring the victims not just with words but by recommitting to the values these men lived by: protection, community, and humanity.
