Three men who lost their lives during Monday's shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego are being honored as heroes who prevented two armed attackers from reaching the children and staff sheltering inside the mosque. Their actions, which cost them their lives, saved approximately one hundred people who were inside the building at the time of the attack.
Mansour Kaziha, Amin Abdullah, and Nadir Awad confronted the threat directly rather than seeking safety, according to Ghouse Mohammed, the center's head of security. "At no point [were they] hiding or running away from what's happening," Mohammed stated. "All three of them were heroes."
Lives Defined by Service and Compassion
Amin Abdullah, 51, served as a dedicated security guard at the mosque, a position he took with extraordinary seriousness. His daughter Hawaa shared at a Tuesday news conference that her father would often skip meals during his shifts because he feared something dangerous might occur if he left his post. "He would be so vigilant in protecting the masjid, protecting the children," she said.
Abdullah, a father of eight, had been deeply affected by the 2019 mass shooting at a New Zealand mosque that killed 51 people. That tragedy reinforced his commitment to protecting his own community. Ismahan Abdullahi, who grew up attending the San Diego mosque, described Abdullah as courageous, sincere, and loving. "The fact that so many lives were saved because of him is not a surprise to us because that's who he was," Abdullahi explained. "He always put other people first, and it cost him his life."
Mansour Kaziha, 78, had been a fixture at the Islamic Center of San Diego since the 1980s. He served as the mosque's handyman and managed the center's store, where he was known for striking up conversations with customers and allowing children to take candy for free. "Every child who grew in the San Diego community since the '80s know him as uncle," Mohammed said.
Kaziha was also celebrated for feeding hundreds during iftar, when worshippers break their fast during Ramadan. His lentil soup became a crowd favorite. Noor Abdi, a youth leader at Huda Community Center in San Diego, reflected on Kaziha's decades of service: "He has done so much. I can't name the amount of things that he has his fingerprints on, and we have lost a pillar of this center."
Nadir Awad, 57, lived across the street from the mosque, and his wife teaches at the school inside the center. Mohammed described Awad as having a "very charming personality, always smiling, always laughing." Though Awad did not hold an official role at the mosque, he responded immediately when he heard gunfire. "When he heard the first rounds, he just ran towards the Islamic Center to check on what's going on and how he's able to help," Mohammed recounted.
Investigation Reveals Suspects' Broad Hatred
At a press conference on Tuesday, Mark Remily, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego field office, identified the two shooting suspects as teenagers who harbored a "broad hatred" toward different races and religious groups. "We are thoroughly investigating this case to learn everything we can and will not stop until we get to the bottom of what happened and why," Remily stated. "But we also want to learn how this happened and what we can do to stop future acts of violence."
The attack has intensified concerns within the Muslim community about rising threats. Mohammed, who has overseen security at the mosque for 13 years, reported that threats toward the Islamic Center have increased significantly since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza. Community members have expressed frustration over how anti-Muslim rhetoric, both online and among elected officials, may have contributed to Monday's violence.
Enhanced Security Measures Following Previous Attacks
The Islamic Center had already increased its security measures and begun arming its officers following the 2019 attack in New Zealand. Abdullah was among the new guards who joined the security team after that tragedy. The mosque had also conducted active shooter drills, though Mohammed noted these primarily focused on scenarios involving a single gunman rather than two attackers.
After reviewing surveillance footage from Monday's shooting, Mohammed confirmed that Abdullah responded exactly as he had been trained. Despite the devastating loss of his close friend and colleague, Mohammed expressed confidence in the security measures that were in place. "We did our best with protecting this place," he said.
In response to the attack, Mohammed called for increased patrols and greater police presence at all houses of worship throughout the region. "Because we all are vulnerable," he emphasized. "And we don't want … this to happen anywhere, to any community, any faith-based organizations."
The San Diego community continues to mourn the loss of three men whose everyday kindness and ultimate sacrifice have left an indelible mark on those who knew them and those whose lives they saved.
