Three people were killed Monday in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and the two suspected gunmen were later found dead, police said.
San Diego police said officers received reports of an active shooter at about 11:43 a.m. Within four minutes, officers arrived at the scene and found three adult male victims dead outside the Islamic center, police said.
"One of the deceased is a security guard who worked there and, I think, played a pivotal role in assisting from this being much worse," said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.
Officers then entered the mosque and an adjacent school to search for possible additional victims or suspects.
Around that time, police said they received reports of gunfire several blocks away. A landscaper working nearby reported being shot at but was not injured, police said.
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Investigators later located a nearby vehicle where the suspected shooters, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old male, were found dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Police said shortly before the incident, one boy's mother called police to report guns and a vehicle were missing. One of the suspects was reportedly dressed in camouflage.
Authorities began a search for the suspects, using license plate readers to hunt for the vehicle and alerting a nearby school where one of the suspects was a student.
Authorities have not discussed a motive. They have said both suspects were found to have employed "generalized hate rhetoric," but did not share additional details.
"We are considering this a hate crime until it's not," Wahl said.
The FBI said in a statement that it is assisting law enforcement partners and assessing the situation.
According to its website, the Islamic Center of San Diego serves as a gathering place for the local Muslim community, hosting daily and weekly prayer services, educational programs and community events throughout the year.
Dozens of children were inside the center at the time of the shooting, but none were injured.
