Armed Teens Storm San Diego Mosque — Security Guard Dies Saving Lives
Two teenagers, ages 17 and 18, attacked Islamic Center of San Diego fully armored with rifles and handguns. Security guard killed after alerting school to lockdown.
Two teenagers armed with rifles and handguns stormed the Islamic Center of San Diego fully armored, killing a security guard who sacrificed his life to prevent greater carnage, authorities confirmed.
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The attackers, ages 17 and 18, charged toward the mosque with weapons registered to one of their parents. A security guard at the Islamic Center shot and struck one of the assailants, but the wounded teenager continued his assault.
Guard's Final Act Saves Lives
Before being gunned down, the security guard alerted administrators at the school housed within the Islamic Center, ordering an immediate lockdown that likely saved dozens of lives.
If it was not for him ... The carnage would be much worse. He sacrificed his life.
The guard's quick thinking and ultimate sacrifice prevented the teenage gunmen from reaching the school, where children and staff had taken shelter. Mosque members credited his actions with limiting what could have been a far deadlier attack.
The shooting adds to growing concerns about religiously motivated violence targeting American Muslims. The fact that the weapons were registered to a parent raises questions about gun storage and access that will likely fuel renewed debates over firearm security requirements.
Federal authorities are expected to investigate whether the attack constitutes a hate crime, while local prosecutors will determine charges against the surviving gunman. The case also highlights the life-saving role of armed security at religious facilities across America.
