Mother's Warning Hours Before San Diego Mosque Attack: Son Was Suicidal, Guns Missing

A tragedy unfolded in San Diego on Monday when two teenagers opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three people before taking their own lives. But what makes this story particularly haunting is what happened in the hours leading up to the attack—a mother’s desperate call to police that went tragically unheeded.

According to law enforcement, one of the 17-year-old suspects had called his mother to report he was suicidal. She told authorities that her guns and car were missing, along with a companion who was dressed in camouflage. She reached out to police to report a runaway juvenile, and officers were actively interviewing her and searching for the teen when the first shots rang out at San Diego’s largest mosque.

The second suspect was 18 years old. Both alleged shooters were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a nearby location minutes after the attack began. Investigators are treating the shooting as a hate crime, with reports indicating that one of the firearms had hate speech inscribed on it—a chilling detail that speaks to the ideological motivation behind the violence.

The younger suspect attended San Diego Unified School District through a virtual learning program and wasn’t involved in any on-campus activities this school year, though he was on track to graduate at semester’s end. It’s a sobering reminder of how isolation, radicalization, and access to weapons can combine into devastating consequences.

This tragedy raises critical questions about intervention, mental health crisis response, and how quickly information can be acted upon when someone’s life—and potentially many others—is at stake. The timeline here is especially painful: a mother knew her son was in crisis, reported it to authorities, and within hours, people lost their lives at a place of worship.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.