San Diego mosque security guard hailed as hero after deadly shooting

A security guard who was killed during a deadly shooting at a mosque in San Diego is being remembered as a hero after authorities said his actions helped save lives.

Amin Abdullah, a father of eight and longtime security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego, was among three people killed in Monday’s attack, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations-San Diego (CAIR-SD).

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl praised Abdullah’s response during the shooting, saying his actions were “heroic” and likely prevented further casualties.

“Undoubtedly, he saved lives today,” Wahl told reporters during a news conference.

The other victims were identified by CAIR-SD as Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad.

According to police, two teenage suspects carried out the attack before later taking their own lives. Authorities said the suspects, aged 17 and 18, were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds inside a vehicle several blocks from the mosque.

Investigators are treating the incident as a suspected hate crime. Police said “hate rhetoric” was connected to the attack, though officials have not yet released additional details about the suspects or their motives.

The shooting unfolded after the mother of one of the teenagers reportedly contacted police earlier in the day to say her son had run away with a friend and might be suicidal.

Hours later, officers searching for the pair discovered three victims suffering from gunshot wounds outside the Islamic Center of San Diego, including Abdullah.

Members of the local Muslim community described Abdullah as a kind and devoted figure who had spent more than a decade protecting worshippers at the mosque.

In a statement, the mosque said Abdullah “put himself on the line for the safety of others” and continued protecting the community even in his final moments.

Friends and community members also paid tribute on social media, remembering him as compassionate and welcoming to everyone who visited the mosque.

“He would greet anyone and make sure they were OK,” community member Sam Hamideh told local media.