‘He sacrificed his life’: security guard killed in San Diego mosque attack hailed as hero | San Diego mosque shooting
A security guard who was killed through the shooting at a San Diego mosque on Monday is being hailed as a hero after police mentioned that his actions “undoubtedly” saved lives.
On Monday, two teenagers opened fireplace on the Islamic Center of San Diego, California, shooting and killing three males. The two attackers, aged 17 and 18, have been discovered lifeless a number of blocks away, from obvious self-inflicted gunshot wounds, officers mentioned.
Among these killed was 51-year-old Amin Abdullah, a security guard on the heart and father of eight.
Speaking at a news convention on Tuesday, Scott Wahl, San Diego’s police chief, mentioned that the 2 shooters ran previous Abdullah, and that Abdullah “immediately observed the threat to everyone at the mosque” and “began to engage them with gunfire.”
“Both suspects returned fire,” Wahl mentioned, including that in the center of the “gun battle” Abdullah reached for his radio, and “put out the lockdown protocol” for the middle.
“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 15ft of these suspects,” Wahl mentioned. “Tragically, he died in that gun battle.”
The two different victims have been identified as 78-year-old Mansour Kaziha, described as a mosque elder and founding member of the middle, and Nadir Awad, 57, who lived throughout the road from the middle and whose spouse labored as a instructor on the heart’s faculty.
On Tuesday, Wahl mentioned that Kaziha and Awad drew the eye of the attackers and drew them “back out into the parking lot area.”
Kaziha, Wahl mentioned, was the primary one who referred to as 911.
In the car parking zone, the 2 males “were unfortunately unable to flee,” police mentioned, and the attackers cornered and killed them. Both suspects fled the scene and have been discovered lifeless in a automotive close by.
“I want to be very clear, all three of our victims did not die in vain,” Wahl mentioned. “Without distracting the attention, without delaying the actions of these two individuals, without question, there would have been many more fatalities.”
At the information convention, the director of the Islamic Center of San DiegoImam Taha Hassane, described the three victims as “brothers in the community” and referred to as them “our martyrs and our heroes.”
He mentioned Abdullah was “such a lovely person” who “never stopped smiling at anyone.”
“If it was not for him, as chief mentioned, the carnage would be much worse,” Hassane mentioned. “He’s the one who stopped them, who slowed them down. If he didn’t do what he did and he sacrificed his life, the two suspects would have easily access to every single classroom.”
Hassane described Kaziha as the “pillar” of the Islamic Center for the final 40 years, who served as a handyman, caretaker, storekeeper and cook dinner. “I have never done anything without him.”
Awad, who he described as a neighbor, “rushed to do something” after he heard the gunfire.
“My community is mourning,” Hassane mentioned. “My community is keeping our three heroes in their prayers.”
Hassane mentioned the Islamic Center was shocked by the violence. “We are used to receiving hate mail, hate messages, people driving by and cursing” he mentioned. “But such a horrible crime, we have never expected this.”
Mark Brimley, particular agent in cost of the FBI’s San Diego subject workplace, mentioned on Tuesday that the victims have been “there to help others be part of a community that came together in peace.”
“Instead, they were confronted by teenagers who appear to have been radicalized online to believe that they didn’t belong because of how they looked or where they worshiped,” he mentioned.
At a separate news conference On Tuesday, Abdullah’s daughter, Hawaa Abdullah, remembered her father as “a loving father, husband, son, brother and uncle.”
“To me, my dad was a role model,” she mentioned. “He was a best friend, he was the best, absolute best dad in the world. He was my protector.”
She continued: “My dad was a number one advocate for safety and keeping our communities safe. He stood against any form of hate.”
He took his job significantly, she mentioned, and regularly wished to avoid wasting his meals till after work as a result of he was afraid of one thing dangerous occurring whereas he was on his break.
A buddy, Khalid Alexander, advised the Associated Press that Abdullah was conscious of the hazards of his job, however was pleased with his position defending the neighborhood of the Islamic Center. “That was his dream job,” Alexander mentioned.
During a Tuesday night vigil, Yasser Kaziha, Kaziha’s son, mentioned his father was a pillar of the neighborhood, and “a pillar of our household.”
“He taught us to expect hardships and push through them to fill our individual purposes just like he did,” he mentioned.
A fundraiser to assist the households of the three males has raised practically $3m.
Police and FBI have mentioned that they’re investigating the attack as a hate crime.
Wahl mentioned on Tuesday that residents may count on to see a “visible presence” of regulation enforcement officers outdoors homes of worship throughout the county in the approaching days.
