San Diego mosque shooting: Victims honoured for heroic response as police probe hate crime
Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nader Awad are being remembered for their actions during the Monday incident, which police are treating as a hate crime involving two teenage suspects.
San Diego Police have confirmed the identities of three men killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, honouring their roles in responding to the attackers. The victims were identified as Amin Abdullah, a 51-year-old security guard; Mansour Kaziha, a 78-year-old long-serving employee; and Nader Awad, a 57-year-old community member. Police Chief Scott Wahl described Abdullah’s actions as heroic, stating that his intervention undoubtedly saved lives and prevented the incident from escalating further.
The shooting occurred while law enforcement was already searching for one of the suspects after his mother alerted police to concerns about his suicidal behaviour and disappearance. Two teenage suspects opened fire at the mosque before killing themselves through apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Authorities are currently investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Abdullah, a security guard who had converted to Islam in the 1990s, was credited with preventing the attack from being "much worse." His daughter, Hawaa Abdullah, described him as a devoted father of eight who prioritised his duty over personal needs, sometimes refusing to eat during shifts to ensure he remained on post. Community members noted his dedication to greeting visitors with the traditional Muslim greeting of "as-salamu alaikum" and his deep integration into the local faith community.
Mansour Kaziha, originally from Syria, had been a cornerstone of the Islamic Center since its construction in the 1980s. He ran the mosque’s gift shop and was responsible for preparing meals for Ramadan observances. Ahmed Shabaik, chairman of the mosque’s board of directors, noted that Kaziha had called the police before he was killed. His son, Yasser Kaziha, described his father as a pillar of both the household and the wider community, teaching resilience in the face of hardship.
Nader Awad, who lived across the street and attended prayers daily, ran towards the mosque upon hearing gunfire to assist, despite his wife working as a teacher at the Islamic school. Mosque authorities and police stated that all three victims played active roles in responding to the gunmen. Imam Taha Hassane referred to the men as "martyrs and heroes," while community tributes highlighted their character and service to the San Diego area.
