Deadly shooting at San Diego Islamic center investigated as hate crime

Police and SWAT teams rushed to the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday morning after a deadly shooting left multiple people dead and sent worshippers running for safety.

(NBC)- Police and SWAT teams rushed to the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday morning after a deadly shooting left multiple people dead and sent worshippers running for safety.

Authorities said officers responded around 11:43 a.m. following reports of multiple victims and active shooters at the scene.

“Within four minutes officers arrived on scene and observed immediately three deceased what appeared to be victims in front,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as police surrounded the building with weapons drawn while families and worshippers fled the area. Children attending a grade school located inside the Islamic center were evacuated hand-in-hand as officers cleared classrooms throughout the building.

“They did have to breach doors to get into different rooms,” Wahl said. “Extremely chaotic.”

One of the victims was identified as a security guard at the Islamic center.

Witnesses said the confrontation began after a suspect approached the guard while armed.

“Supposedly someone walked up, showed a weapon to the security guard,” witness Karen said. “Security guard pulled his weapon, they started firing.”

Police credited the security guard with preventing an even larger tragedy.

“One of the deceased is a security guard that worked there and I think played a pivotal role in assisting from this being much worse,” Wahl said.

Investigators said the suspects were two males ages 17 and 19.

Authorities later found both suspects dead inside a vehicle away from the scene.

“The suspects at this time appear to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds,” Wahl said. “There were no officers involved in firing their weapons.”

Police also revealed the suspects allegedly opened fire on a landscaper about two blocks away before the attack at the Islamic center.

“There was a landscaper doing his work shot at and fortunately was not hit,” Wahl said.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the suspects or detailed a possible motive, but investigators say they are treating the shooting as a hate crime.

“We are considering this a hate crime,” Wahl said.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria addressed the Muslim community following the attack.

“I want to assure our Muslim community that we will do everything it takes to make sure that you can feel safe in this city,” Gloria said.