San Diego shooting suspect who killed three described as 'runaway' who left behind 'hate speech' note

One of the San Diego shooting suspects has been described as a "runaway" who left behind a note containing "hate language" to his mother, as new details about the deadly incident have emerged.

Earlier today, the Islamic Centre of San Diego, on Eckstrom Avenue, in San Diego, California, was attacked by two teenage suspects - aged 17 and 18 - who killed three adults before being found dead in a car near the mosque, the largest in San Diego County.

Now, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl has said one of the suspects' mothers reported her son as a runaway at 9.42am (5.42pm BST) to the authorities.

After speaking to officers, the mother "began to piece together bits and pieces of information over an extended period of time", Mr Wahl said.

These details included the belief her son was suicidal, and shared that three of her weapons and her car were missing.

Her son and his companion, the other shooting suspect, were both dressed in camouflage, and a note left behind which contained hate language, Mr Wahl added.

After the discussion with the mother, San Diego police sent authorities to monitor Fashion Valley Mall, the largest open air shopping mall in San Diego, about five miles from the Islamic Centre.

Police also sent officers to Madison High School, in San Diego - about one mile from the mosque - where one of the suspects was a student.

At 11.43am, police received the active shooter call as officers were still talking to the mother of the victim, San Diego police said.

San Diego Police revealed a fourth man was attacked in the incident as the suspects fled the scene.

A landscaper may have been shot in his helmet, which deflected the bullet. Police previously reported he was uninjured, but this not yet confirmed, Mr Wahl said.

The Islamic Centre of San Diego houses the Bright Horizon Academy, the only full-time pre-K through 12th accredited Islamic school in San Diego.

One of the victims was earlier identified as a security guard who likely saved lives - his actions were described as "heroic", by Mr Wahl.

LATEST US NEWS:

• Horror at US airshow as two fighter jets collide mid-air
• Elon Musk loses lawsuit against ChatGPT creator OpenAI after 11-days in court
• Hero off-duty British policeman saves US cop's life from rampaging gunman while on holiday

Police are currently investigating the shooting as a hate crime, but San Diego Police stressed that the note found by the mother did not directly name the Islamic Centre or other locations.

Mr Wahl said: "There was no specific threat, especially no specific threat to the Islamic Center. It was just general hate kind of speech that I think covered a wide gamut.

"Again, we are still actively investigating this as we speak, but it was more generalized."

Mark Remily, the special agent in charge of FBI San Diego, said bomb techs had cleared the vehicles where suspects had been found, adding the intelligence service would "leave no stone unturned".

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria pledged to provide additional protections to houses of worship as he condemned hate in the city.

"Hate has no home in San Diego. Islamophobia has no home in San Diego. An attack on any San Diegan is an attack on all San Diegans, and we will not stand for it in America’s finest city," Mr Gloria said.

But he was heckled by a person as he approached the podium to speak at the press conference, who said the shooting was a result of the Democratic mayor's leadership.

"Our Muslim brothers and sisters have been talking to you for how long? You have to f*cking listen to them, Todd," the person said, who then walked away from the scene.

Earlier on Monday, President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting, which he described as a "terrible situation".

Other US officials, including New York's first Muslim Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was "horrified by the deadly attack".

He added: "Islamophobia endangers Muslim communities across this country. We must confront it directly and stand together against the politics of fear and division.

"My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire community grieving this devastating attack."

And Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the attack, adding that "hate has no place in California, and we will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith".

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter