Authorities identify alleged shooters behind San Diego Mosque attack

San Diego mosque shooter, Cain Clark identified as former high school wrestler https://t.co/vx9sBw7bOE pic.twitter.com/AcSjYC6gj6 — New York Post (@nypost) May 19, 2026

Following the attack, authorities say both suspects fled the area before being discovered dead inside a vehicle several blocks away. According to San Diego Police Department officers, the teens appeared to have suffered self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Investigators are now reportedly treating the case as a possible hate crime.

According to the New York Post, authorities allegedly recovered anti-Islamic writings, “hate speech” written on one of the weapons used in the attack, and a note referencing racial pride from inside the suspects’ vehicle.

Despite those findings, officials have not yet publicly confirmed a motive as the investigation remains ongoing.

The suspects have since been identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, both San Diego residents.

While little information about Vazquez has been publicly released so far, Clark was reportedly enrolled as a virtual student through the San Diego Unified School District’s iHigh Virtual Academy and also competed in wrestling at James Madison High School.

Reports state that Clark was a member of the wrestling team from 2024 to 2025 and won first place at a tournament in January 2024.

The two deceased teen shooters at the Islamic Center of San Diego have been identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vasquez.

The attack claimed the lives of three victims. pic.twitter.com/wi440yBgOZ — I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) May 19, 2026

Authorities also revealed that Clark’s mother had contacted police roughly two hours before the attack to report him as a runaway juvenile.