At least 1 dead in San Diego mosque shooting

A security guard has been killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, after police rushed to the scene and confronted the suspected gunman.

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Authorities said officers responded to reports of an active shooter at the mosque in the Clairemont area on Monday. Police later said the threat had been “neutralized”.

Officials had not immediately confirmed fatalities or the number of people injured. However, the chairman of the Islamic Center told media outlets that a security guard at the site had been killed during the incident.

A spokesperson for Sharp Memorial Hospital said that victims from the shooting were being treated there, though no details were given about their condition.

Police respond to shooting

In a statement issued shortly after 1pm local time, the San Diego Police Department said officers had secured the scene.

“The threat at the Islamic center has been neutralized,” the department said.

Emergency services were dispatched after reports of gunfire at the mosque earlier in the day. Police moved quickly to confront the suspect, though officials have not yet released details about how the attacker was stopped.

Authorities have not publicly identified the suspected shooter.

Officials urge public to avoid area

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said emergency crews were working to protect the community and secure the area, urging residents to stay away from the site while the response continued.

“I am aware of the active shooter situation at the Islamic Center of San Diego in Clairemont and am continuing to receive updates from law enforcement,” Gloria said in a statement posted on social media.

“Emergency personnel are on scene and actively working to protect the community and secure the area.”

The mosque is the largest in San Diego County and regularly hosts large numbers of worshippers.

The incident appeared to occur about an hour before the centre’s scheduled midday prayer, which the mosque’s website lists at 1:15pm local time.

State and national response

The office of Gavin Newsom said the California governor had been briefed on the shooting. A spokesperson said the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services was coordinating with local law enforcement as the situation developed.

“We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities,” the governor’s office said in a statement.

Elsewhere, the New York City Police Department said it was monitoring the situation and increasing patrols at mosques across the city as a precaution.

“While there is currently no known nexus to NYC or specific threats to NYC houses of worship, out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD is increasing deployments to mosques across the city,” the department said.

Authorities have not yet said whether the shooting is being investigated as a hate crime. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 19 May 2026