‘Anti-Islamic Writings’ Found In Car Of Teen Suspects In California Mosque Shooting: Report
‘Anti-Islamic Writings’ Found In Car Of Teen Suspects In California Mosque Shooting: Report Curated By, Last Updated: May 19, 2026, 23:08 IST Andrej Karpathy, OpenAI
‘Anti-Islamic Writings’ Found In Car Of Teen Suspects In California Mosque Shooting: Report Curated By, Last Updated: May 19, 2026, 23:08 IST Andrej Karpathy, OpenAI founding member and former Tesla AI director, joins Anthropic pretraining team, highlighting intensifying competition among leading AI firms. Police outside the Islamic Centre of San Diego the shooting. (Image: Reuters) Authorities investigating the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego have reportedly found “anti-Islamic writings" inside a vehicle linked to the two teenage suspects, adding to indications that the attack may have been motivated by religious hatred. According to a US Department of Justice official familiar with the investigation, the suspected gunmen have been identified as 18-year-old Caleb Vasquez and 17-year-old Cain Clark. The two were found dead inside a vehicle after Monday’s shooting, with police saying they appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
The attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego left three people dead, including security guard Amin Abdullah, whom authorities have credited with helping prevent further bloodshed. Police had earlier said the shooting was being investigated as a possible hate crime but did not provide details on motive. The discovery of alleged anti-Islamic material in the suspects’ vehicle may now become a key part of the investigation. Officials also said Clark’s mother has been cooperating with investigators. According to police, authorities were initially alerted after one of the teenagers’ mothers reported her son missing, describing him as suicidal and saying he had taken three of her firearms along with her vehicle. Police first searched a local shopping centre and the boy’s school before receiving emergency calls about gunfire at the mosque. The Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in San Diego County, also houses Bright Horizon Academy.
Authorities said all children attending the school were accounted for and unharmed after the shooting. The incident has shaken Muslim communities in the region, particularly as it occurred days before Eid al-Adha and the annual Hajj pilgrimage. A fundraising campaign launched by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) San Diego and the Islamic Center has raised more than $1.7 million for the family of slain security guard Amin Abdullah. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said security measures across the city would be increased following the attack. “There’s always a concern about other sick and twisted individuals who will take inspiration from this tragedy and try and replicate," Gloria told CNN. “No expense will be spared in protecting the people of this city," he added. The FBI and local authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether the attack was driven by extremist ideology or anti-Muslim hatred.
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