Security guard killed in San Diego mosque shooting hailed as hero by police chief
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl credits Abdullah’s actions with saving lives, including children, at the county’s largest mosque.
Amin Abdullah, a security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego, was killed on May 18, 2026, during a shooting incident involving two teenage gunmen. Abdullah was one of three people who died in the attack at the facility, which is the largest mosque in San Diego County.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described Abdullah as a hero, stating at a news conference that his actions in attempting to stop the attackers likely saved many lives, including children. Wahl said, “It’s fair to say his actions were heroic. Undoubtedly, he saved lives today.”
Abdullah, who was of African American descent, had worked as a security officer at the mosque. Personal accounts from Kashif Bhai, a former colleague who knew Abdullah from their time working together at a dental office, noted that Abdullah had a lifelong fascination with men in uniform and was fulfilling a dream by working in security. Bhai, whose family migrated to the US from India in 1995, last saw Abdullah in December 2025 during the funeral of his father at the mosque.
The Islamic Center of San Diego features traditional Islamic architecture, including a minaret and dome visible from the freeway. Bhai observed the presence of a heavily armed security guard at the entrance for the first time during his visit in December, a change he attributed to the rise of anti-Muslim rhetoric and violence in the US since the 1990s.
Abdullah was described as being born to an African American mother and as being “as American as one can get” while also being deeply Muslim. His name, Amin, translates to “trustworthy”. The specific details of the gunmen’s motives or the full sequence of events remain unverified in the provided accounts.
