3 men who died defending children at San Diego mosque remembered as heroes

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Three men were killed Monday at the Islamic Center of San Diego after confronting two teenage gunmen to protect roughly 140 children who were gathered inside the facility, authorities said. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told reporters Tuesday that the three victims died while attempting to delay and distract the attackers. Their actions allowed staff and families inside the center to secure rooms and initiate emergency protocols as the situation unfolded.

The attack has drawn national attention as the San Diego community mourns individuals who lost their lives while shielding children. The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by houses of worship across the country and highlights the rapid, decisive actions taken by community members during the crisis. As MSI previously reported, the disturbance began when the teenage suspects entered the San Diego facility early Monday.

Police Chief Wahl provided the first official account of the interior confrontation. Wahl said the three men engaged the gunmen immediately upon their entry. The police department has not yet released the specific roles the victims held at the center, but Wahl emphasized that their intervention was deliberate and life-saving. The two teenage shooters were also killed at the scene, according to earlier law enforcement updates.

Imam Taha Hassane, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of San Diego, stood before gathered community members and first responders to identify the deceased. Hassane named Amin Abdullah, 51, Nadir Awad, 57, and Mansour Kaziha, 78. The Imam noted that Kaziha was widely known within the congregation as Abu Ezz, a respected elder whose presence spanned generations of families at the center.

“We call them our brothers in the community,” Hassane said during the memorial remarks. “We call them our martyrs and our heroes.”

The Imam’s words captured the immediate emotional response from local residents. Congregants and neighborhood leaders described the three men as pillars of the San Diego Islamic community. Their willingness to step forward in the face of armed attackers transformed a routine weekend gathering into a scene of profound loss and resilience.

Children remained inside secure areas of the building as law enforcement secured the perimeter. Local hospitals confirmed they treated several individuals for shock and minor injuries, but no other fatalities were reported among the children or adult supervisors. The presence of roughly 140 minors at the time of the breach intensified the urgency of the three men’s intervention.

Community organizations have mobilized in the days following the shooting. Vigils are scheduled outside the Islamic Center, and counseling services have been established for affected families and children. Local Muslim advocacy groups have issued statements condemning the violence and urging unity, while demanding increased resources for faith-based security grants.

Law enforcement continues to examine the origins of the teenage shooters and the timeline of their planning. Investigators have recovered digital devices and personal writings from the scene, which officials say will help clarify the perpetrators’ motives. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting the San Diego Police Department as the inquiry expands.

The Islamic Center of San Diego remains closed for structural assessments and cleanup operations. Administration officials stated they would cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and the national review of security protocols at religious institutions. Memorial arrangements for Abdullah, Awad, and Kaziha are being coordinated by their families with support from local religious leaders.