Heroic Actions of Security Guard Prevented Greater Tragedy
The courage of a security guard who was fatally shot along with two other worshippers at a San Diego mosque on Monday is credited by police with preventing the attack from becoming more devastating.
The guard, Amin Abdullah, a father of eight, was identified by Tazheen Nizam, a spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations-San Diego (Cair-SD), in a statement to the BBC.
"It's fair to say his actions were heroic," San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said at a news conference. "Undoubtedly, he saved lives today."
Abdullah and two other victims, named by Cair-SD as Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad, were killed by two unidentified teenage attackers who subsequently took their own lives, according to police reports.
Those who knew Abdullah described him to US media as a devoted community caretaker. Social media users have called him "the nicest man you'll ever meet."
The mosque honored him as "a courageous man who put himself on the line for the safety of others, who even in his last moments did not stop protecting our community."
Community Remembers Amin Abdullah as a Shining Light
Nizam told the BBC,
"Amin was loved by everybody, he stood there day after day, always smiling, welcoming everybody, welcoming the kids who came to the school.
He was a shining light. He is a true hero, a martyr."
A family friend told the Associated Press that Abdullah was well-known at the mosque and had served there for over a decade.
"He wanted to defend the innocent so he decided to become a security guard," Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq said.
Sam Hamideh, acquainted with Abdullah through the mosque, told CBS, the BBC's US news partner, that Abdullah would be remembered for his kindness.
"It didn't matter who walked up... any random person could just walk up and, like, [Abdullah] would greet them, make sure they are OK," Hamideh said.
"Whether they were homeless off the street looking for something, whether it was a child or elderly."
An online fundraiser established for Abdullah's family has raised over $1.6 million (£1.2 million).
Other Victims and Details of the Attack
The other two victims were worshippers at the mosque, according to Cair-SD. Kaziha helped maintain the mosque’s grounds and convenience store, while Awad’s wife teaches at the school affiliated with the Islamic center.
The shooting occurred near noon on Monday after the mother of one of the two alleged teenage attackers contacted police to report that her son had run away with a friend and might be suicidal.
Hours later, while police were searching for the teenagers, authorities discovered three individuals with gunshot wounds outside the Islamic Center of San Diego, including Abdullah.
Shortly after, police found the two suspects, aged 17 and 18, deceased from self-inflicted wounds inside a vehicle a few blocks from the mosque.
Investigation and Official Responses
Police are investigating the shooting as a hate crime, with Chief Wahl noting that "hate rhetoric" was involved in the incident.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, US Vice-President JD Vance condemned the shooting as "reprehensible" and urged Americans to pray for all those affected.
"We don't want that to happen in our country, and may God rest the souls of the people who lost their lives," he said.
Vance also mentioned that his wife, Usha Vance, who was born and raised in San Diego, likely knew people who frequented the mosque. He added that he and the second lady often dine at a nearby restaurant when visiting her family.
"Political violence, wherever it comes from, is unacceptable in the United States of America. Let's talk with one another, not shoot each other when we disagree," Vance stated, adding that this is a principle supported by the president.
Police have not officially confirmed the motive behind the shooting but continue to treat it as a hate crime investigation.
