Three adult men were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, authorities confirmed. The victims were found outside the mosque, and one of the deceased was a security guard whose actions are being credited with preventing further loss of life.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described the security guard's role as heroic, stating that his intervention undoubtedly saved lives. The shooting occurred shortly before noon, and police received multiple calls about gunfire in the vicinity. All children present at the center were reported safe, with photos showing them being evacuated.

Authorities said both suspects, aged 17 and 18, died from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Police discovered the suspects deceased in a vehicle nearby after responding to the mosque incident. One person sustained a non-firearm-related injury while responding to the scene and was taken to a local hospital.

The shooting is currently being investigated as a hate crime, with police citing "hate rhetoric" as a factor. Sources indicated that anti-Islamic writings were discovered in the vehicle with the suspects. The motive is still under investigation.

Earlier on Monday, about two hours before the mosque shooting, San Diego police had received a call about one of the suspects, who was reported as a runaway juvenile. The teen's mother informed authorities that several weapons and her vehicle were missing and that she had found a note, the contents of which were not disclosed by police.

The mother also reported that her son was with another individual, and both were dressed in camouflage. Officers were in the process of attempting to locate the vehicle and had dispatched units to a mall and a school associated with one of the teens when the shooting at the mosque was reported.

In addition to the fatalities at the Islamic Center, police received reports of a landscaper being shot at a few blocks away from the mosque. The landscaper may have been struck in a helmet, though this has not been fully confirmed.

This incident has raised concerns within the community and prompted a swift response from law enforcement to investigate the circumstances and potential motivations behind the attack.