Two teenagers were responsible for a deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. According to the FBI, their manifesto displayed a mix of hatred against Jews, Muslims, women, Hispanics, gay, and trans people. The document opened with antisemitic statements and called for a race war. It also referenced “accelerationism,” a violent white supremacist ideology.
The attack was live-streamed, reminiscent of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting where 51 people died. The teens wore gear with Nazi symbols and etched “Race War” onto a weapon. An image from the manifesto connected to the shooters, who killed three people on May 18, 2026, has been shared publicly. Oren Segal from the Anti-Defamation League mentioned that the attackers aimed to emulate the Christchurch shooter and saw themselves as his successors.
The manifesto contained sections of anti-Black, anti-Muslim, anti-Hispanic, anti-trans, and misogynistic writings. The document was divided by each teen, both identifying with the incel movement, which is linked to previous mass shootings. This 75-page manifesto appears to be a compilation of internet writings, possibly aided by AI. CBS News has not confirmed its authorship.
Authorities believe the teens met online before discovering their proximity in San Diego. Cain Clark, one of the attackers, left a suicide note expressing his willingness to die for his cause. Clark was a 17-year-old high school wrestler; the other attacker, Caleb Vazquez, was 18. Evidence suggests the teens were influenced by numerous mass shooters, including the Christchurch attacker.
Their attack was recorded and shared on a platform known for extreme violence videos. The FBI noted a trend of young people engaging with the “True Crime Community” (TCC), which glorifies mass shooters. After killing three people, including a security guard who saved many others, Clark shot Vazquez and then himself.
The first warning came at 9:40 a.m. when Clark’s mother reported her son as suicidal, noticing missing weapons and a vehicle. He wore camouflage. This triggered a threat alert to law enforcement in San Diego. Two hours later, the teens attacked the mosque, killing a security guard and trying to enter a school with over 100 children. Amin Abdullah, the guard, successfully initiated a lockdown.
The teens then targeted two men in the parking lot, killed them, and fled in their vehicle, shooting out the car’s window. They ended the attack a few blocks away when Clark killed Vazquez and then himself. Authorities noted they had stockpiled 30 guns and a crossbow taken from Clark’s parents.