San Diego Mourns Three Men Killed at Mosque

Why this is here: The Islamic Center of San Diego’s primary school has 140 students, all of whom were able to hide before the attackers found empty rooms.

Over 2,000 people gathered in a San Diego park on Thursday to mourn Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad. The three men died attempting to stop an attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego. Mourners, including police officers and people traveling from across California and the eastern United States, performed Janazah, the Islamic funeral prayer, to honor them.

Abdullah, a security guard, initiated a lockdown procedure with his radio during the shooting. Kaziha, the center’s handyman, and Awad rushed toward the gunfire after hearing it. Police report the men’s actions delayed the attackers and allowed roughly 140 students and staff to hide.

The attackers, identified as teenagers, died from self-inflicted gunshots after fleeing the mosque. The incident is under investigation as a hate crime, and the community remains unsettled by rising Islamophobia. The families of the deceased expressed pride in their loved ones’ bravery.