What we know about the high-schooler accused of attacking San Diego Islamic Center
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SAN DIEGO — Authorities are trying to unravel what led two teenagers to open fire at the San Diego Islamic Center, killing three people before taking their own lives.An early focus has been on one of the assailants, a San Diego high school student whose mother reported that he was suicidal and potentially armed soon before the shooting occurred.The teen, 17, and a second suspect, 18, opened fire at the center Monday morning around 11:30 a.m., authorities said.They were found minutes later at a location not far from the center, dead of self-inflicted gunshot wounds, according to authorities.San Diego police are investigating the attack as a hate crime.
One of the guns had hate speech written on it, the sources told The Times, and anti-Islamic writings were found in a vehicle.California Police in San Diego swarmed a local Islamic center after reports of an active shooter.
Five people were killed, including two suspected gunmen.“At least one of the suspects took a firearm from their parents’ home” and left a suicide note, “writing about racial pride,” sources said.Monday afternoon, FBI agents were searching the teen’s home on Lehrer Drive, according to law enforcement sources.The house is around two miles from the Islamic Center, which is in the Clairemont Mesa neighborhood.
The teenager was enrolled in a virtual learning academy at the San Diego Unified School District and was on track to graduate high school this semester, according to district spokesperson James Canning.He previously participated in wrestling at Madison High School but did not take part in any on-campus activities this school year, said Canning.“It’s important for people to understand this person wasn’t there on Friday and then all of a sudden Monday this is the situation,” Canning said.“They were in their virtual classroom.”Although authorities have not named the teen, three source...