Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Monday night said the San Diego mosque that was the victim of a shooting could have been more secure if the agency he leads were funded.
Speaking with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, Mullin was asked about the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday that left two suspects and three others dead.
Mullin said his agency works with the FBI and White House with religious institutions, but asserted that the recent shutdown, the longest in history, barred them from working with houses of worship on security measures.
“We have FEMA grants that they could use to help protect themselves,” Mullin said. “Unfortunately, for the last 76 days, we were shut down, so we’re just now getting those grants out. Until then, they have to hire their own security.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a Nonprofit Security Grant Program that provides funding for security to nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack. According to FEMA, the grant program is intended to “promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.”
The two suspects in the shooting were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a vehicle near the Islamic center. NBC reported that police identified the suspects as Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18.
Hannity brought up the possibility the shooting could have been carried out by illegal immigrants, asking how Mullin plans to keep those attending worship safe.
Mullin said that “fortunately” in the case of Monday’s shooting, the two suspects had “extremist views.”
The San Diego Police Department said its officers are investigating the shooting at the Islamic center as a hate crime. There have been no police statements or comments that terrorism was a possible motive in the attack.
The FBI is working with San Diego’s law enforcement to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
FBI Director Kash Patel also spoke with Hannity on Monday and said the FBI is prioritizing the nation’s safety.
“We are not going to tolerate any acts of violence whatsoever, especially terrorist acts of violence based on radical ideology and misplaced faith,” Patel said.
Several Republican lawmakers have spoken out against violence, issuing statements about the events in Southern California. President Donald Trump also briefly weighed in on the incident, calling it a “terrible situation.”
TWO SUSPECTS DEAD AFTER THREE KILLED IN SHOOTING AT SAN DIEGO ISLAMIC CENTER
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Tim Scott (R-SC) both posted to social media condemning violence on places of worship and offering their condolences to the victims and their families.
The FBI has started a tip line for information on the shooting. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
