San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria was heckled during a news conference following a deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque that left five people dead, including both suspects.
Gloria held the news conference with law enforcement to brief the public about a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that resulted in two suspects dying of self-inflicted gunshot wounds and three others being killed.
An unidentified person in the crowd shouted at Gloria as he took to the podium.
“This is a f***ing direct result of your leadership,” the person said. “Our Muslim brothers and sisters have been talking to you for how long? You have to f***ing listen to them, Todd.”
Another individual could be heard yelling, “It’s Trump.”
Gloria did not respond to the shouting and continued with his remarks.
The shooting took place Monday morning at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The two suspects, reportedly Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, were found dead in a car near the center.
Three other individuals were killed during the shooting, though only one has been identified as a security guard, reportedly named Amin Abdullah. Police have not released the identities of any of the victims.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said they are investigating the incident as a hate crime because “hate rhetoric” was involved, but it was noted that the hate comments were not specific to a mosque. Multiple reports allege the weapons used had “hate speech” written on them.
Wahl said the mother of one of the suspects called police Monday morning before the shooting and said her son, as well as three of her weapons and her vehicle, were missing from the home. The police chief added that a person who is suicidal “is not going to take three weapons from a location.”
‘HATE RHETORIC’ INVOLVED IN DEADLY SAN DIEGO MOSQUE SHOOTING, POLICE SAY
Gloria strongly condemned the shooting during his remarks, promising additional protections for houses of worship in the city that are fearful because of Monday’s events.
“Hate has no home in San Diego,” Gloria said. “Islamophobia has no home in San Diego. An attack on any San Diegan is an attack on all San Diegans, and we will not stand for it in America’s finest city.”
