San Diego Mosque Shooting Presser: Security Guard's Actions Saved Children

By Ward Clark | 4:36 PM on May 19, 2026

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On Tuesday, the San Diego Police Department and the FBI gave a joint press conference updating what they have uncovered in the investigation of Monday's attack on a San Diego mosque by two gunmen. There was a lot of technical and legal detail, but two comments stood out: The heroism of the security guard who engaged the shooter and doubtlessly saved lives, and the equal-opportunity hate that it seems characterized the shooters.

You can see the entire presser here.

WATCH LIVE: San Diego Police Department holds a press conference on mosque shooting https://t.co/CGd2wAptgy
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 19, 2026

Here are the key items. First, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl talks about the security guard, Amin Abdullah:

I talked yesterday about the heroic actions of the security guard at the Islamic center. I had no idea how heroic those actions were. The individuals that did this heinous act, ran past the security guard, most likely now knowing he was there. He immediately observed the threat to everybody at the mosque. He began to engage them with gunfire. Both suspects returned fire. You can see the security guard reach for his radio and put out the lockdown protocol. The security guard then continued to engage in a gun battle with these two suspects. His actions, without a doubt, delayed, distracted, and ultimately, deterred these two individuals from gaining access to the greater area of the mosque, where as many as 140 kids were within 15 feet of these suspects. Tragically, he died in that gun battle.

This guard, in this instance, behaved flawlessly in what we can only describe as a heroic effort. He engaged the threat and deterred them, almost certainly knowing as he did so that he was risking his own life; it appears he acted without hesitation, and kept his head enough to call for a lockdown. He may well have saved dozens of lives.

Next, the FBI Special Agent in Charge for the San Diego field office, Mark Remley, made a few interesting statements about the alleged shooters.

In the vehicle that they (the shooters) used, we also identified writings, of various ideologies, outlining religious and racial beliefs, as to how the world they envisioned should look. These subjects did not discriminate on who they hated. And let me be very clear, to anyone that thinks that they can end the world through violence, they are sorely mistaken.

Note: Special Agent Remley doesn't give any specifics, nor should we expect any in an open investigation.

Update: Shooting Reported at Islamic Center of San Diego; Threat Neutralized

His statements, however, raise some interesting questions. Were these two accused shooters just misanthropes? Did they just hate people?

As the investigation unfolds, we will eventually know more. At the moment, though, we're left with the same baffling lack of ability to understand someone who would carry out an act like this; someone who would, had they been given the chance that a quick-acting guard, Amin Abdullah, denied them, would have targeted children.

There is at present a LaunchGood fundraiser for the security guard's family.

This remains a developing story. Stay tuned.

Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.

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