A 17-year-old from North Carolina has been charged with murder in connection with the May 18 attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, authorities announced. Prosecutors allege the teenager published a manifesto from the two teenage gunmen and recorded the assault using helmet-mounted cameras.
The security guard at the mosque, Amin Abdullah, was killed while exchanging gunfire with the attackers and initiating a lockdown that protected approximately 140 children inside. Two worshippers, Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad, who drew the shooters' attention in the parking lot, were also fatally shot. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described Abdullah's actions as heroic, stating they had "undoubtedly" saved lives.
Investigators believe the two teenage gunmen, who were killed by police during the attack, had also planned to target a local Jewish temple and a predominantly African American high school. Authorities found an arsenal of around 30 guns and a crossbow, which investigators stated were taken from one of the shooter's parents. Writings containing racist and antisemitic views, along with references to white supremacist ideologies, were also discovered. The attackers reportedly used the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand as a model for their planned attacks.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the full extent of the plot and the involvement of any other individuals.
