San Diego PD provides update on mosque shooting

UPDATE (2:20 PM): The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) has identified the three people killed in the mosque shooting Monday.

The three men are identified as a security guard and two community members who risked their lives to save others.

Authorities say that Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad were outside the Islamic center of San Diego when the shooters approached the mosque at about 11:43 a.m.

They say if not for the quick actions of the security guard, the gunmen would have easily gained access to classrooms where children were located.

"His actions without a doubt delayed, distracted and ultimately deterred these two individuals from gaining access to the greater areas of the mosque where as many as 140 kids were within 15 feet of these suspects. tragically he died in that gun battle," said Chief Scott Wahl with SDPD.

"If it was not for him as [Chief Wahl] mentioned, carnage would be much worse. He's the one that stop them who slowed them down. If he didn't do what he did and sacrifice his life, the two suspects would have had access to every single classroom...We're so proud of him," said Imam Taha Hassane with the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Police say that the other two victims helped draw the shooters away from the mosque and towards the parking lot where they were cornered and killed.

"Without distracting the attention without delaying the actions of these two individuals without question there would have been many more fatalities yesterday," Chief Wahl expressed.

The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime, and the gunmen were found dead in a vehicle blocks away from the mosque.

"In coordination with the San Diego Police Department we're currently conducting extensive interviews with the subjects family and friends we've executed three search warrants at residences associated with the subjects. During those searches we found and seized numerous firearms from two of those locations including numerous pistols, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, tactical gear as well as electronics. So far in this investigation, we've seized over 30 guns and a cross bow.

We're also executed search warrants on the electronic devices the subjects had with them at the time of the incident and we're in the process of obtaining additional search warrants for additional devices. In the vehicle they used we also identified writings and various ideologies outlining religious and racial beliefs of how the world the envisioned should look. These subjects did not discriminate on who they hated."

Mark Remily, Special Agent in Charge, FBI San Diego Office

SAN DIEGO (KYMA, NBC) - The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) is holding a press conference Tuesday.

According to a press release obtained by NBC News, the press conference is to provide updates on the mosque shooting that happened Monday.

SDPD confirmed Monday that two teenage gunmen, identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vasquez, opened fire, killing three adults, including a security guard.

After the shooting, SDPD says the gunmen were found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound blocks away from the mosque.

Just a few hours after their deaths, NBC News says SDPD, in SWAT gear, surrounded Vasquez's home on Paradise Trail in Chula Vista.

SDPD says they have created a temporary website where important information from the press conference will be shared.

In addition, SDPD says the FBI is seeking information on the shooting, and is urging anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or click here.

To watch the livestream of the press conference, see attached video.