Deadly San Diego Shooting and the Hate Manifesto

The tragic shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego unfolded on a fateful Monday, leaving a harrowing impact. Two teenagers carried out this deadly attack while casting blame on Jews and spewing hateful rhetoric, according to what the FBI identified as a “manifesto.” The document, acquired by CBS News, reflects a nihilistic blend of hatred aimed at diverse groups, including Muslims, women, Hispanics, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Special Agent Mark Remily, leading the FBI’s San Diego Field Office, stated, “These subjects did not discriminate in who they hated.” CBS News reviewed the document, which opens with a strong antisemitic statement, frequently repeating, “IT’S THE JEWS.” It calls for a violent racial conflict and references “accelerationism,” a violent white supremacist ideology advocating societal destruction.

The attack mimicked the notorious Christchurch mosque shooting in New Zealand from 2019. The perpetrators livestreamed their assault, wearing Nazi symbols associated with Hitler’s paramilitary ranks and engraving “Race War” on one of their weapons.

Oren Segal, senior vice president at the Anti-Defamation League, mentioned that the shooters sought to continue the legacy of the Christchurch shooter. Segal noted, “They almost identified themselves as the ‘sons’ of the shooter.”

The manifesto is divided into two sections, each attributed to one teenager. Both sections express belonging to the misogynistic incel movement linked to previous shootings. Incel refers to “involuntary celibate.” A question-and-answer part of the document ambiguously discusses political affiliations, neither explicitly right nor left.

This incident signals a rise in attacks driven by what the FBI categorizes as “nihilistic violent extremism,” a dangerous mix of multiple hateful ideologies. The document spans 75 pages, compiling writings historically shared in darker corners of the internet, potentially compiled with AI assistance. CBS News has yet to independently verify its origins.

Authorities believe the two teenagers met online, later realizing their shared location in San Diego, then met face-to-face. One gunman, 17-year-old Cain Clark, left a suicide note expressing readiness to die for his dreadful cause, revealed by an informed law enforcement source. He participated in the local high school wrestling team. The second shooter, Caleb Vazquez, was 18.

Investigations uncovered influences from numerous mass shooters, including the Christchurch perpetrator. The teens filmed the assault, with the distressing ten-minute video widely shared on a platform known for extreme content. This site, flagged by the FBI, is connected to the “True Crime Community,” an online network glorifying mass shooters and promoting violence.

The violent footage shows Clark in camouflage fatally shooting Vazquez before taking his own life, succeeding their deadly attack that claimed three lives. Among the victims was a security guard revered for saving many others’ lives. The teens amassed 30 guns and a crossbow, sourced from Clark’s parents.

An Early Warning

The warning sounded at 9:40 a.m. when Clark’s mother dialed 911, fearing her son’s suicidal thoughts upon discovering missing weapons and her vehicle. She described Clark’s camouflage clothing, triggering a threat alert to local authorities despite the undefined target.

Two hours later, the assailants attacked the mosque, killing a security guard outside before entering the premises, which included a school with over 100 children. The guard, Amin Abdullah, had activated lockdown alerts, managing to relocate the students. The attackers then noticed two men in the parking lot through a window.

Exiting the mosque, the shooters aimed at and killed the men before fleeing in a vehicle, firing through its window. A few blocks later, Clark fired at Vazquez and then at himself.