On May 18, 2026, the city of San Diego was shaken by a senseless act of violence that claimed the life of 78-year-old Mansour Kaziha and two other men at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Kaziha, a beloved and integral part of the mosque community, was killed while heroically trying to distract and delay two teenage gunmen who had launched an attack on the center, ultimately saving the lives of approximately 140 children who were in the building at the time.
Known affectionately as Abu Ezz, Kaziha was remembered as a pillar of the community, serving as the mosque's handyman, cook, and caretaker for decades. He was a welcoming and heartwarming presence to all who entered the mosque.
The tragic event unfolded when two teenagers, identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, began an assault on the Islamic Center. The mosque's security guard, Amin Abdullah, was the first to confront the shooters, engaging in a gun battle and issuing a lockdown warning over his radio before being fatally wounded. As the gunmen breached the mosque, they were drawn back outside into the parking lot by Kaziha and another community member, Nadir Awad. It was there, in an act of selfless bravery, that both Kaziha and Awad were shot and killed as they drew the attackers' attention away from the classrooms full of children.
The investigation into the horrific attack revealed that the two teenage assailants were radicalized online, where they met and shared white supremacist ideologies. Writings left behind by the gunmen expressed a broad hatred for various racial and religious groups. The attack was swiftly classified as a hate crime. The suspects, Cain Clark and Caleb Vazquez, were later found dead in a vehicle from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and therefore no arrests were made in connection with the murders of Mansour Kaziha, Amin Abdullah, and Nadir Awad. The case concluded with the deaths of the perpetrators, leaving a community to mourn the loss of three heroes and grapple with the devastating impact of hate-fueled violence. The heroic actions of Kaziha, Abdullah, and Awad undoubtedly prevented a much larger tragedy and are remembered as a testament to their courage and dedication to their community.
