Active Shooter Incident at San Diego Islamic Center

On May 18, 2026, a mass shooting occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Prior to the incident, authorities received a call from a local mother around two hours earlier, reporting her son was missing and potentially suicidal. According to Scott Wall from the San Diego Police Department, this mother was later identified as the suspect’s parent but has not been named publicly.

The mother informed police that her vehicle and firearms were missing, which raised alarms. She also mentioned that her son was with friends, both of whom were dressed in camouflage—a detail that Wall noted seemed inconsistent with suicidal behavior.

Wall provided a timeline linked to the events of that morning. Police first responded to concerns at Fashion Valley Mall, situated about eight miles from the Islamic Center, fearing it could also be a target if the missing vehicle was located nearby.

Additionally, officers were dispatched to Madison High School after learning that one of the teens had connections to the school. Later in the morning, at 11:43 a.m. local time, another report came in regarding the shooting at the Islamic Center.

As police were conducting a search within the mosque, they received information about another shooting incident occurring a few blocks away. A landscaper had been shot in the head but fortunately survived, as the bullet struck his helmet.

Wall concluded his briefing by mentioning that authorities had received a final report about two young suspects found in a parked car, both of whom were later declared dead at the scene.

Mark Remily, who oversees the FBI’s San Diego Field Office, stated that response teams are diligently collecting further evidence related to this case.