Three men died Monday morning when two gunmen attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, but police say the death toll could have been far higher if not for the actions of the center's security guard, Amin Abdullah.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said Tuesday that the suspects ran past Abdullah, "most likely not knowing he was there," and that Abdullah then opened fire on them. After radioing an alert and initiating the mosque's lockdown protocols, he "continued to engage in a gun battle" with the suspects, Wahl said.
"His actions, without a doubt, delayed, distracted and ultimately deterred these two individuals from gaining access to the greater areas of the mosque, where as many as 140 kids were within 15 feet of these suspects," Wahl said.
The two other victims, Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad, were identified by Imam Taha Hassane. According to Wahl, Kaziha and Awad "inadvertently" drew the suspects back out into the parking lot, "where they were unfortunately unable to flee." Police believe the suspects then tried to escape in their car after realizing law enforcement was "seconds away." The two suspects, ages 17 and 18, were found dead inside a vehicle nearby.
Abdullah was a father of eight, according to people who knew him. Mayte Gutierrez, a former employee of the Islamic Center's school, told CBS Mornings that she knew Abdullah well.
"Because of his heroism and his courage, his bravery, and the love for his community and his faith, he saved a lot of lives," Gutierrez said.
Hassane confirmed in a social media post that the entire school was safe, including all children and teachers. During a news conference, he urged the public to respect the privacy of the victims and their families.
Wahl said Monday, before the full scope of Abdullah's actions was publicly detailed, that his response spoke for itself.
"I think it's fair to say his actions were heroic, and, undoubtedly, he saved lives today," Wahl said.
The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime. Wahl said Tuesday that all three victims made a difference.
"All three of our victims did not die in vain," Wahl said. "Without distracting the attention, without delaying the actions of these two individuals, without question, there would have been many more fatalities yesterday."
