Updates: 3 killed in shooting at San Diego's largest mosque

The San Diego shooting took place at the city's Islamic Center, located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city center. 

The shooting claimed the lives of three people, one of whom was a security guard who had a "pivotal role" in preventing a bigger disaster, San Diego's police chief Scott Wahl said.

Within the Center is also the Al Rashid School, which offers Arabic courses, as well as Islamic studies and Quran classes for students aged five or older.

Children could be seen leaving the area during the commotion, with Wahl later saying all kids in the compound were safe.

The Center's mosque holds prayers five times a day, as well as other events, with it also welcoming people of other faiths.

"They've always opened their doors, even to people who aren't Muslim, they invite people to Ramadan dinners," local resident Josie-Ana Edenshaw who has been attending the Islamic Center for three years, told the Associated Press agency.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria condemned the shooting at San Diego's largest mosque, calling it "a violent act of hate."

"An attack of any one of our communities — on any San Diegan because of who they are, what they believe or how they pray — is an attack on all of us," Gloria said in a statement.

Gloria added that those who seek to bring hate-inspired violence to San Diego will be met with the "full force" of the law, as well as the "full strength of a city that refuses to be turned against itself."

He said the city stands against Islamophobia and "all forms of violence targeting our communities."

The mother of one of the suspects in Monday's shooting found a note left by the teenager, Scott Wahl said.

"What that note looks like, what that note says, I’m not going to disclose right now," Wahl said. 

One of the three people who died at the Islamic Center was a security guard believed to have taken action that helped "minimize the situation," San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.

"We do believe the security guard was able to help at least minimize the situation to the front area of the mosque," he said.

The chief said officials were still working to establish whether or not the security guard engaged the suspects.

"At this point, I think it's fair to say his actions were heroic," Wahl said. "Undoubtedly, he saved lives today."

San Diego's police chief, Scott Wahl, said at a second press conference that the mother of one of the suspects had notified the police about her son who had gone missing earlier Monday morning.

She said her firearms and car were missing, and that her son was suicidal and likely with another friend.

"Our threat management unit began to take the tips and leads that we had and utilize the technology we have available to us," Wahl said.

The two suspects in the shooting, both teenagers, were later found dead in a car nearby.

One of the weapons used in the shooting at a mosque in San Diego had hate speech scrawled on it, CNN reported, citing law enforcement officials.

According to the officials, one of the suspects also left a suicide note containing references to racial pride.

US President Donald Trump said he's being kept informed about the shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego.

"It's a terrible situation," Trump said during a healthcare event at the White House, adding that officials are "looking at it very strongly."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the shooting was a "horrifying act of violence" that no one should ever have to experience at school or their house of worship.

“We strongly condemn this horrifying act of violence at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this attack," CAIR said in a statement. "No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school." 

The mosque plays an active role in building bridges within the local community, local imam Taha Hassane said during a press conference, adding that a group of non-Muslims were given a tour of the mosque as part of efforts to promote a better understanding of Islam.

The children who were at the Islamic Center in San Diego during the shooting are safe, local police head Scott Wahl told local media.

"All of the kids are safe," Wahl said, sending condolences to the families that are "being notified of what has happened to their loved ones."

According to aerial TV footage, more than a dozen children were escorted outside the center's parking lot, while parents were directed to a nearby area to pick them up.

The Islamic Center's website says it offers programs for students as young as five years old.

San Diego's police chief Scott Wahl said officers arrived within four minutes of a 911 call to find three victims dead outside the mosque. That promoted an active shooter response.

As officials were responding to the situation at the mosque at around 11:43 a.m. PT (18:43 GMT), authorities were also informed about gunfire a few blocks away.

A landscaper was fired at, but wasn't hit, Wahl said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom reacted to the shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego, saying he was "horrified" by the "violent attack."

"Worshippers anywhere should not have to fear for their lives," the Democrat said in a statement.

"Hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith."

Newsom ended the statement by turning to the state's Muslim community.

"California stands with you," he said.

Police are treating the shooting incident at an Islamic Center in San Diego as a hate crime, San Diego's police chief, Scott Wahl, said at a press conference.

"Because of the Islamic Center location, we are considering this a hate crime until it’s not," Wahl said.

Three men were killed in the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, one of whom was a security guard who played a "pivotal role" in preventing a much worse outcome, according to Wahl.

The two suspects, believed to be 17 and 19 years old, appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, Wahl said.

The pair were found dead in a car nearby.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told a press conference that there was "no further threat" to the public.

A special agent in charge of FBI San Diego said that the two suspects in the shooting were found dead inside a vehicle that was stopped in the middle of the road, near the scene.

Wahl said the two suspected shooters were teenagers, believed to be 17 and 19 years old, and died from what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

"Both suspects in this case are deceased," he said.

Wahl said that officers responding to the incident were informed of reports of gunfire several blocks away, where a landscaper was shot at but was uninjured.

Authorities in San Diego said three people were killed in the shooting.

They added that one of the victims was a security guard of the Islamic Center. According to US media reports, the other two were employees.

"We have three confirmed adults that are deceased at the Islamic Center," San Diego Police Department Chief Scott Wahl said.

All three of the victims were males, Wahl said. He stressed that all children that were in the complex at the time of the incident are safe.

The Islamic Center is considered the largest mosque in San Diego County. The organization says its mission is to not only serve the Muslim population but also "work with the larger community to serve the less fortunate, to educate, and to better our nation." 

The mosque is located in a neighborhood of homes, apartments and strip malls with Middle Eastern restaurants and markets.

The mosque holds five daily prayers and includes the Al Rashid School, which offers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies and the Quran.

At the time of the shooting, aerial TV footage showed more than a dozen children, holding hands, being escorted out of the parking lot of the center.