Two teenagers carried out a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three people before one turned his weapon on the other and himself in a murder-suicide that was filmed and posted online, authorities said Tuesday.
Background
The attack occurred around noon when Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, opened fire outside the mosque. A security guard stationed out front — later identified as Amin Abdullah — was killed first, but not before he triggered a lockdown alert that officials say saved potentially dozens of lives. More than 100 children were inside the facility's school at the time.
According to investigators, after entering the mosque, the teens began going door-to-door in search of victims. However, because Abdullah had already initiated the lockdown, students were secured in another section of the building and out of harm's way. The attackers then spotted two men in the parking lot through a window, exited the mosque, targeted and killed them, fled in their vehicle while shooting from the car window, and drove several blocks before Clark shot Vazquez and then himself.
The Investigation
FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily, speaking at a Tuesday press conference, described the teens as radicalized through online channels. 'These subjects did not discriminate in who they hated,' Remily said. Authorities believe the two met online, discovered they both lived in the San Diego area, and shared a hate-filled worldview that investigators say was shaped by extremist content circulating on dark corners of the internet.
A 75-page document authorities are calling a 'manifesto' has been reviewed by CBS News. The document appears to glorify past mass shooters, including the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack in New Zealand, and contains anti-Islamic, antisemitic, racist, and misogynistic rhetoric. A law enforcement source said one teen left a suicide note indicating he was willing to die for his 'abhorrent cause.'
Investigators found evidence suggesting the teens were influenced by what federal authorities describe as 'accelerationism' — a violent white supremacist ideology advocating societal destruction. The manifesto, possibly compiled with assistance from AI tools, appears to be a compilation of writings that have circulated online for years.
The attack itself was filmed in a 10-minute video showing Clark, wearing camouflage, shooting Vazquez before turning the weapon on himself. The video was posted to a gore website known for depicting graphic violence — one authorities say has been on the FBI's radar amid concerns about young people engaging with what's called the 'True Crime Community,' an online movement that glorifies mass shooters and encourages violence.
A source familiar with the investigation said the video appeared to have been initially recorded on Discord before being posted elsewhere. CBS News found that an account using the alias 'Otto' — identified as having posted the footage — had deleted all posts from the platform.
The Charges
Because both shooters died, no criminal charges can be filed against them in connection with the killings. Investigators are continuing to examine evidence including the manifesto, weapons, and video footage. Authorities said the teens had stockpiled 30 guns and a crossbow — weapons taken from the parents of one of the attackers.
Clark was a member of his high school wrestling team, according to officials. Both suspects were residents of the San Diego area.
Key Takeaways
- Three people were killed in Monday's shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego: security guard Amin Abdullah and two men in the parking lot
- Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, are identified as the shooters; Clark then killed Vazquez before taking his own life
- The attack was filmed and posted online; authorities say a lockdown alert triggered by the security guard saved more than 100 children inside the mosque school
- Investigators recovered 30 guns and a crossbow taken from one teen's parents, along with weapons bearing neo-Nazi insignias
- A 75-page manifesto glorifies mass shooters and references accelerationist ideology, according to the FBI
What's Next
The investigation remains active. The FBI is working with local law enforcement to trace the origins of the teens' radicalization, map their online communications, and identify any potential co-conspirators or enablers. Authorities have not indicated whether anyone else may face charges related to facilitating the attack or providing weapons.