TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about suicide, which may be triggering to some.
A frantic California mother contacted police in San Diego on May 18, 2026, terrified about her teenage son’s mental well-being. The mother reportedly said 17-year-old Cain Clark left her home dressed in camouflage and may have taken some of her weapons. The teenage boy had mentioned suicide, and his mother desperately wanted help finding him before something terrible happened. Dispatchers received that call around 9:40 a.m. Two hours later, police got a call about shots being fired at the Islamic Center of San Diego. A massacre followed.
Clark’s mother apparently tried to stop her son.
The City of San Diego noted that police received a call at 9:42 a.m. from Clark’s mother. She reportedly warned dispatchers of her son’s suicidal ideations and said he might have a friend with him, according to a news release. The unidentified mother claimed her car and several weapons were missing from the home.
Police considered this a threat and began searching for Clark and his 18-year-old companion, identified by CNN as Caleb Vazquez, using Automated License Plate Recognition. Law enforcement also zeroed in on Clark’s school, Madison High School, the release shared. Sadly, they did not find the suspects in time.
Three innocent men died.
According to the city, authorities received a call at 11:43 a.m. about an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Within four minutes, officers arrived and found three adult men deceased. The victims include 51-year-old security guard Amin Abdullah, 78-year-old Mansour Kaziha, and 57-year-old Nadir Awad, the release noted. The city reported that Kaziha was a founding member and caretaker of the center and that Awad was a neighbor who heard gunfire and ran to help.
Abdullah likely saved many lives.
Clark and Vasquez reportedly began shooting at the security guard and father of eight when they arrived. Abdullah returned fire and locked down the center. Though he died, he likely prevented many others from losing their lives that day, the release shared. Due to his quick thinking, the gunmen could not enter the main part of the facility. Sadly, the Clark and Vazquez ecounted Kaziha and Awad along the way and killed them before leaving.
The suspected teenage killers fled the scene.
Cain and Vasquez reportedly left in Cain’s mother’s car. At 11:52 a.m., police received more calls about shots fired nearby. They later found Cain and Vasquez dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
FBI San Diego special agent Mark Remily addressed the media during a news conference along with local leaders. He confirmed that, though there is no longer a threat to the community, the agency will investigate the shootings as a hate crime.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria concurred and did his best to assure all citizens that they are safe in San Diego, regardless of their religious affiliation.
“I want to assure our Muslim community that we will do everything it takes to make sure that you can feel safe in this city and no resource will be spared in making sure that our religious institutions and locations are protected in this sensitive time,” Gloria said during the news conference.
What has the world come to? Two teenage boys turn to shooting up a mosque for fun? And then instead of facing the consequences of their actions, they just kill themselves. Make it make sense. And stop the hate.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
