Cops were already hunting San Diego mosque shooters after mom raised alarm that one was armed and suicidal
The concerned mom of one of the teen San Diego mosque shooters had frantically alerted cops that her suicidal son had run away in camo and with some of her weapons — sparking a huge hunt in the hours before the bloodshed unfolded.
Police spent two hours scrambling to locate the suspects, since identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Velasquez, off the back of the mother’s alert before the gunshots rang out at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday.
The mother had warned cops that weapons were missing from the home and her car was gone after her son vanished, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.
Cain Clark, 17, has been identified as one of the alleged gunman in Monday’s shooting at a San Diego mosque. Facebook/madison.warhawk.wrestling
He had dressed in camouflage and was with an acquaintance at the time.
As the search intensified, cops used automated license plate readers to track the car and went to a mall in the area.
They also alerted a school where at least one of the teens had been a student and continued interviewing the mother, Wahl said.
When reports of the shooting came in roughly two hours later, cops responded within four minutes of being called.
The teens had already gunned down three men, including hero security guard and father of eight, Amin Abdullah.
The suspects were found in a vehicle after killing themselves a few blocks from the scene.
The body of a suspect lies dead, and a gas container with an ”SS” sticker sits next to a white BMW. Anadolu via Getty Images
Anti-Islamic writings were found in the suspects’ vehicle and “hate speech” was written on the firearms used in the shooting, a source told The Post. Anadolu via Getty Images
Members of the muslim community in San Diego embrace a block away from where an active shooting incident took place in San Diego, California, USA, 18 May 2026. JOHN GASTALDO/EPA / Shutterstock
Anti-Islamic writings were found in the suspects’ vehicle and “hate speech” was written on the firearms used in the shooting, sources told The Post.
It wasn’t immediately clear which of the teens’ moms first alerted cops.
Clark had attended Madison High School and was a standout wrestler, according to the school’s social media page.
Clark attended Madison High School and was on the school’s wrestling team. Facebook/madison.warhawk.wrestling
The details emerged as authorities planned to execute search warrants related to the investigation on Tuesday as they piece together how and why the shooting unfolded.
