Police Chief: Mother warned SDPD of missing son and weapons 2 hours before mosque shooting

OAN Staff Lillian Mann
6:02 PM – Monday, May 18, 2026

San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Scott Wahl announced that authorities had received a call around two hours before Monday’s shooting regarding a “runaway juvenile” from a local mother who believed her son was suicidal and on the run.

During a second press conference about Monday morning’s shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD), Wahl said SDPD received a call at 9:42 a.m. local time from the suspected shooter’s mother, who has not been identified. She reported that her vehicle and several firearms were missing.

The mother also told the police that her son was with a companion and were both dressed in camo, which Wahl argued was not consistent with someone who is suicidal.

Wahl then outlined a timeline of Monday morning’s events, explaining that police initially gathered at Fashion Valley mall in San Diego, roughly five miles from the Islamic Center, out of concern it could also be targeted when the vehicle tied to the missing teens was spotted near the mall.

Meanwhile, officers were also dispatched to Madison High School after authorities learned one of the teens had ties to the school and/or school campus. Authorities then received another call at 11:43 a.m. local time in relation to a shooting at the Islamic center.

As officers searched each room inside the mosque, they received another report of a shooting a few blocks away, where a landscaper had “been shot in the head.” Fortunately, the landscaper survived as the bullet “struck the helmet he was wearing.”

Wahl concluded her statement by adding that authorities received a final report involving the two young suspects being seen in a parked vehicle. They were later pronounced dead at the scene.

Mark Remily, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent in charge of the San Diego Field Office, noted at the conference that response teams are currently working to gather more evidence on the incident.

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