​San Diego mosque victims identified as VP Vance condemns ‘reprehensible’ shooting

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Authorities have identified the three mosque workers who were killed while successfully protecting over a hundred children during Monday’s shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. 

Vice President JD Vance strongly condemned the attack as "reprehensible," offering his condolences and noting a deep personal connection to the neighborhood through his wife.

Identity of three victims released by police

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl identified the victims as security guard Amin Abdullah, and mosque staff members Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad.

Abdullah, a father of eight formerly known as Brian Climax, was the first line of defense.

He used his security radio to trigger an emergency lockdown, which allowed teachers at the school to lock their doors before the gunmen could get inside.

“His actions without a doubt, delayed distracted and ultimately deterred these two individuals from gaining access to the greater areas of the mosque where as many as 140 kids were within 15 feet of these suspects,” Wahl said, adding, “Tragically, he died in that gun battle.”

The other two victims, Kaziha and Awad, deliberately drew the attackers' attention away from the classrooms. 

Kaziha, an elderly worker who went by AbulEzz, was the first to call 911 and had served the mosque since it opened in 1986. 

Awad lived across the street and rushed over to help because his wife works as a teacher at the school.

Imam Taha Hassane described Kaziha as "the pillar of the Islamic Center of San Diego" and said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do at the Islamic center without his daily assistance.”

Wahl noted that video surveillance showed Kaziha and Awad drawing the suspects away from the building before they were cornered.

“Both suspects were able to successfully corner them and kill both of them,” Wahl said, stating that “all three of these victims did not die in vain.”

Vice President Vance condemns the attack

The tragedy drew national attention, including a response from Vice President JD Vance during a press briefing on Tuesday, May 19. 

Vance shared a personal connection to the area, explaining that his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, is from San Diego.

He noted that they frequently visited a restaurant right next to the Islamic Center and that his wife likely knows people in the local community.

Vance strongly spoke out against the attack and called for unity and support for the grieving community.

“That type of violence in the United States of America is reprehensible and I encourage everyone to pray for them. May God rest the souls of the people who lost their lives,” Vance said.

Details on the investigation and suspects

The two teenage suspects, ages 17 and 18, were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds inside a car on a nearby street shortly after the shooting.

Investigators found an anti-Islamic note and writings inside the vehicle, and law enforcement seized more than 30 guns and a crossbow during their searches.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily explained that the teens “appear to have been radicalized online to believe that they didn’t belong because of how they looked or where they worshipped. They couldn’t be more wrong.”

Remily said the recovered notes showed “various ideologies outlining religious and racial beliefs of how the word they envisioned should look,” and added, “These subjects did not discriminate on who they hated.” 

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria praised the victims while rejecting the actions of the attackers, stating, “I want to be very clear: those two young men do not represent our city. These three Muslim men do.”