Photo: Walter Cicchetti / Shutterstock.com A deadly shooting in San Diego, California, on Monday (May 18) left five people dead, including two suspects, ages 17 and 19, who were found dead in a car on a nearby street, authorities said.
According to police, the first emergency call to 911 was received at 11:43 a.m., reporting an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego, in the area of Ekstrom Boulevard. The first responders arrived on the scene in less than four minutes.
Large forces of police, special forces, FBI and emergency teams were called to the scene following reports of shootings at the mosque and the school compound. At the same time, additional calls were received about shootings at several nearby locations in the city.
The local police chief gave a dramatic press conference describing the force's response:
"I can tell you with 100% certainty that the heroic actions of the responding officers and deputies were beyond words. To know that this many of our public servants are ready to leave their loved ones behind, drop what they were doing and run toward the sounds of gunfire without asking questions is remarkable."
According to authorities, three of the dead were shot dead inside the Islamic center, including a security guard. Minutes after the main incident, at 11:52 a.m., another call was received about a shooting on Salerno Street, where a landscaping worker was shot while working. The man miraculously survived and was not injured.
The police later managed to locate the suspects inside a vehicle on Hatton Street, where the two were found lifeless.
The FBI confirmed that the investigation is being conducted in full cooperation with local authorities. "No community should have to go through such a tragic incident,” FBI special agent Mark Brimley commented. "The FBI will work tirelessly to understand the circumstances of this incident and uncover the truth."
It was also reported that federal agents, forensic investigators, terrorism experts and aid workers for the families of the victims are working at the scene.
The most shocking moment for the forces, the police chief said, was when students began to flee the area:
“Seeing the children running out and simply admitting they were alive, is a moment I will never forget.”
At this stage, authorities have not yet released an official motive for the incident, but stressed that all avenues of investigation are being examined. Police said there is no further threat to the public, but the investigation is still ongoing