An active shooter opened fire today at a mosque in San Diego, California, striking an undetermined number of people before law enforcement successfully neutralized the threat.
San Diego Police Officer Anthony Carrasco confirmed that multiple gunshots were reported at the Islamic Center of San Diego, which houses the county’s largest mosque and is located roughly 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) north of downtown San Diego. While the San Diego Police Department initially categorized the scene as an active but contained crisis, law enforcement sources cited by CNN shortly after confirmed that the shooter had been neutralized.
Authorities have not yet clarified whether the gunman managed to breach the interior of the building or if the shooting took place exclusively outside on the property grounds.
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The Islamic Center of San Diego shares its campus with the Al Rashid School, an educational facility offering Arabic language courses, Islamic studies, and Quranic classes. Aerial footage broadcast by American television networks captured the tense aftermath, showing more than a dozen school children holding hands as police escorted them safely across the center’s parking lot, which was heavily cordoned off by dozens of emergency vehicles.
The complex is situated within a busy residential neighborhood that features various shopping centers, restaurants, and local markets. Following the initial reports, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office issued a public statement urging residents in the immediate vicinity to strictly follow the directions and safety protocols outlined by local law enforcement.
